Indian Folk Music

Music has always been an important aspect of the lives of Indian people. India’s rich cultural diversity has greatly contributed to various forms of folk music. Almost every region in India has its own folk music, which reflects the way of life. From the peppy bhangra of Punjab to Garba of Gujarat to Bhavageete of Karnataka, the tradition of folk music in India is indeed great. Folk music is closely associated with farming and other such professions and evolved to alleviate hardship and break the monotony of routine life. Even though folk music lost its popularity with the advent of contemporary music like pop and rap, no traditional festival or celebration is complete without folk music. 

Folk music of different states

Panihari- Folk music of Rajasthan. Developed by women in Rajasthan. Most songs often had water and rain as their theme.

Maand- It is Rajasthan’s most sophisticated style of folk music and is the exclusive contribution to India's classical music. Maand is neither accepted as a full-fledged Raga nor is it reckoned among the freely rendered folk songs. It is quite similar to the Thumri or the Ghazal.

Pandavani- Folk music of Chhattisgarh.  It is a folk singing style of musical narration of tales from the ancient epic Mahabharata with musical accompaniment and Bhima as head too.  This folk music is popular in Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh. While Tambura is largely used as an accompanying musical instrument, it is also used as a prop to explain different characters from the Mahabharata.

Baul- Folk song of Bengal region. The Baul or Bauls are a group of mystic minstrels of mixed elements of Tantra, Sufism, Vaishnavism and Buddhism. Best known for their songs and poems to the god who dwells within. The term “Baul” is usually understood to mean “madman” or religious ecstatic, and Bauls often describe themselves as crazy for God. Baul Sangeet, or Baul Sangeet music, is a type of folk song.  Its lyrics are influenced by Hindu Bhakti movements and Sufi, a type of Sufi song exemplified by Kabir’s songs and known as ‘Baul Gaan’ or Baul song. Their music represents a long tradition in Bengal of preaching mysticism through songs, as in the Shahebdhoni or Bolahadi sects.

Bhatiali- Bhatiali was sung by the fishermen of ancient Bengal. It is said that this musical form was used by the oarsmen and fishermen of Bengal to keep themselves entertained when they didn’t have to row their boats with all their might. Nirmalendu Chowdhury is one of the best exponents of this ancient musical form.