Folk Studio
Holi’s age-old mythological connection with Lord Krishna-Radha and Mathura
As the folk-tale goes, troubled by his wheatish complexion, Lord Krishna once applied colour on Radha’s face in a bid to make her complexion alike. Thus began the festival of playing with colours in India.
Deepak Rangnath
Mud houses are vanishing; Mandana art adorning its walls will too, if not preserved
Mandana art form, passed on from mothers to daughters unlike other art forms, is now practiced only by a few. If we don’t preserve it, Mandana will vanish, much like the mud houses it once adorned.
Azera Parveen Rahman
This is how women in Bihar welcome their husbands home
Jhumar is a folk-dance form from Bihar. It is said women express their joy and happiness through Jhumar when their husbands, who have been away from them, return home after a long time
Gaon Connection
Close your eyes … sway to the tunes of Ravanahatta
If you are in Rajasthan, chances are that you will find many folk artists playing this instrument, commonly known as the Ravanhatha. There are not many artists who play the instrument now, but its melodious tune will attract you to the folk artists instantly
Gaon Connection
Songs of the battlefield and bravery are pride of Bundelkhand
The pride of Bundelkhand, these are songs of the battlefield, songs of bravery from a bygone era. Sung in Veer rasa, Aalha songs are sung by sword-wielding men and women in very powerful voices
Gaon Connection
Sarangi … the instrument of a hundred colours
The Sarangi derives its name from the bow of Lord Vishnu. As per some musicians, the word Sarangi is a combination of two words ‘Seh’ (Persian equivalent of three) and ‘Rangi’ (Persian equivalent of coloured) corrupted as sarangi