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Folk Music
Traditional rural culture in Bengal revolves around song and music.
Many of the unique song and dance forms revolve around harvest;
others around life and motifs in villages and the seasonal cycle.
Bengali folk songs can be loosely grouped in the following categories.
Bhatiali
These were songs composed and sung by boatmen of East Bengal. In
this land of rivers -- the Ganga, Padma, Brahmaputra, Kabotaksha,
Tista, Meghna, Madhumati and Buriganga -- water is a cheap form
of transport as well as accommodation.
Bhawaiya
These were composed and sung mainly by cart drivers (or gaarhials).
Although largely concentrated aound northwest Bengal, the themes
of the bhawaiya are similar to bhatiali. Common themes include journey,
and separation (from parents or loved ones).
Kabigaan
These are songs written and composed by Kobials (folk poets) and
performed in front of an audience. Kabigaans include linguistic
elements like metaphorical embellishments, questions and riddles.
The spirit of competition -- rival poets displaying their ingenuity
and power to perform extemporaneoulsy -- account in large part for
the popularity of this genre. The kabigaan had been an immense source
of entertainment, pleasure and wisdom for generations of villagers.
Kabiggan often included references to the Indian epics Mahabharat
and Ramayan, and left their mark on the cultural landscape of Bengal.
Jarigaan
Kabials were mostly hindus; the muslim folk equivalent of the Kabial
tradition is known as Jarigaan. The muslim folk poets were inspired
by life and times of prophet Mohamed and his disciples, and their
themes were based on Islamic folk heroes and religious beliefs.
Sarigaan
Sari (or Shaeri) songs are associated with the popular boat races,
when large crowds would gather along the banks of the river to celebrate
the occasion. Sarigaan accompanied the festivities before and after
the races.
Keertan
These are hymns to Sri Krishna and Sri Chaitanya. Chaitanya, considered
to be another reincarnation of Lord Vishnu, is a Bengali rebel philosopher
and religious prophet who denounced the caste system as immoral
and preached universal brotherhood in Bengal as well as in other
neighbouring states.
Harikeertan
Harikeertan (also called Namjangja) involves the repeated chanting
of the names of Lord Krishna and Lord Rama around the clock. The chant
goes:
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna Hare Hare,
Hare Rama Hare Rama
Rama Rama Hare Hare!
Repeated chanting, it is believed, clears the mind and inculcates
pure devotion to Godhead. In parts of Bengal Harikeertan lasts two
or three weeks at a time, and may involve singing bands of devotees
from faraway places (and, more recently, from foreign countries as
well).
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