Bangalore, Oct 19 (IANS) It was the first brush with Baul music for most Bangaloreans. The wandering minstrels of Bengal came here, sang to their heart’s content and made it an affair to remember.
“It’s great to perform in Bangalore and we hope to come back here soon,” said Sanatan Das Baul, dressed in a saffron coloured kurta and lungi and holding the one-stringed musical instrument called ektara.

“Bangaloreans have a good sense of music and appreciate traditional and folk music from different parts of India,” Sanatan, one of the most revered Baul singers from Bengal, told IANS on the sidelines of Baul-Fakir Utsav.

The utsav was organised by Bangotsab Samiti, an organisation of Bengalis in Bangalore, as part of Diwali celebrations.

Sanatan was accompanied by Shasti Das Baul, Sandeep Baul, Armaan Fakir, Gholaam Fakir and Aakkash Fakir from Santiniketan.

The Baul-Fakirs do not believe there is a threat to traditional folk music from the increasing popularity of Western rock and pop among youth in the country.

“Our music is rooted and people love our music. We’re not worried even if youngsters are more inclined towards Western and Bollywood music. We’re determined to continue with our tradition,” said Armaan Fakir, who sings the Sufi genre of music.

Sanatan said: “We sing songs of our land and its people. As we move from one place to another, singing and meeting people, we try to spread love and peace.”

The Baul tradition was included in the list of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” by Unesco in 2005. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore was an ardent fan of Baul music.

The music of Baul and Fakir singers is laced with commentary on contemporary issues. The melodious songs are rendered in an extraordinarily high-pitched tones.

“Both the Baul and Fakir genres of music have rich historical, cultural and social significance. They are social reformers in their own way,” said Anindita Choudhury, a member of the Samiti.

“The idea of inviting the folk singers to Bangalore was to introduce Bangaloreans to the rich heritage of Bengal, where music goes beyond just singing and dancing, but has seeds of social reforms also,” added Anindita.

Revathi Hedge, a bank executive in Bangalore, said: “They are simply superb. They take the audience to a different world. I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.”