<p lang="en-US">French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday evening (Jan 26) visited the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia and enjoyed a Qawaali session in the mausoleum's&nbsp;courtyard, said officials.</p>

<p lang="en-US">Macron prayed at the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia and also offered a 'chaadar' at the mausoleum. He was on a two-day visit to India and had participated in the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest at New Delhi's Kartavya Path.<br />
<br />
The French president reached the nearly 700-year-old shrine at 9.45 pm local time and spent more than half an hour at the revered place, the officials said.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | President of France Emmanuel Macron visited the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah on Friday. (26.01)<br />
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(Source: Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah) <a href="https://t.co/gf5hMBxZA4">pic.twitter.com/gf5hMBxZA4</a></p>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1751018939176636601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>In the video, Macron was seen as distinctly draped in a sea green scarf while other delegation members were seen donning a pink coloured scarf. The French president was accompanied by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well as other senior dignitaries.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:</strong>&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/french-president-emmanuel-macron-addresses-french-community-at-embassy-in-indias-new-delhi-684038">Droupadi Murmu, French counterpart Macron reaffirm longstanding friendship between India and France</a></p>

<p>Nizamuddin Dargah, located at the heart of the national capital, is the mausoleum of the well-known Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya and his disciple and poet Amir Khusrau.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">President of France <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> shares a moment of joy, immersed in Sufi Qawwali at the Nizamuddin Dargah, New Delhi, alongside India's External Affairs Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/DrSJaishankar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DrSJaishankar</a> and the French delegation.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MacronInIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MacronInIndia</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NewIndia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NewIndia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndiaFranceRelations?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#IndiaFranceRelations</a> <a href="https://t.co/vpmYjocxed">pic.twitter.com/vpmYjocxed</a></p>
— MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) <a href="https://twitter.com/mygovindia/status/1751107829954740587?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>A Roadmap on Defence Industrial Co-operation was adopted by the two countries as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with the visiting French president on January 25 and 26.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Visuals of French president <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EmmanuelMacron</a> visiting the Nizamuddin Dargah in New Delhi earlier today (Friday). <a href="https://t.co/XPeP5boHLG">pic.twitter.com/XPeP5boHLG</a></p>
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTI_News/status/1750963905042452618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 26, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>President Droupadi Murmu hosts a banquet</strong></h2>

<p lang="en-US">Earlier, Indian President Droupadi Murmu welcomed her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she hosted a banquet in his honour.<br />
<br />
Murmu, while welcoming President Macron, said that the leaders of the two nations being guests of honour in the National Day parade and celebrations of each other is a historic moment, and "a symbol of the depth of our friendship and the strength of our partnership".</p>

<p lang="en-US"><strong>Watch:&nbsp;French President Macron enjoys Qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi</strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/french-president-macron-enjoys-qawwali-at-nizamuddin-dargah-delhi-684229/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p lang="en-US">In his address, President Macron said, "It is with the most pleasure that we are here and to come back five years after our former state visit and five months after the success of your G20. We were extremely honoured to be part of such an important and unique day and to have our soldiers being alongside with you and being part of this exceptional moment. I think this is for everybody here in this delegation, in our memories forever," reported ANI.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday evening (Jan 26) visited the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia and enjoyed a Qawaali session in the mausoleum's courtyard, said officials.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday evening (Jan 26) visited the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia and enjoyed a Qawaali session in the mausoleum's courtyard, said officials. Macron prayed at the Dargah Nizamuddin Aulia and also offered a 'chaadar' at the mausoleum. He was on a two-day visit to India and had participated in the 75th Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest at New Delhi's Kartavya Path. The French president reached the nearly 700-year-old shrine at 9.45 pm local time and spent more than half an hour at the revered place, the officials said. #WATCH | President of France Emmanuel Macron visited the Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah on Friday. (26.01) (Source: Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah) pic.twitter.com/gf5hMBxZA4 — ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2024 × In the video, Macron was seen as distinctly draped in a sea green scarf while other delegation members were seen donning a pink coloured scarf. The French president was accompanied by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as well as other senior dignitaries. Also read: Droupadi Murmu, French counterpart Macron reaffirm longstanding friendship between India and France Nizamuddin Dargah, located at the heart of the national capital, is the mausoleum of the well-known Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya and his disciple and poet Amir Khusrau. President of France @EmmanuelMacron shares a moment of joy, immersed in Sufi Qawwali at the Nizamuddin Dargah, New Delhi, alongside India's External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar and the French delegation.#MacronInIndia#NewIndia #IndiaFranceRelations pic.twitter.com/vpmYjocxed — MyGovIndia (@mygovindia) January 27, 2024 × A Roadmap on Defence Industrial Co-operation was adopted by the two countries as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held discussions with the visiting French president on January 25 and 26. Visuals of French president @EmmanuelMacron visiting the Nizamuddin Dargah in New Delhi earlier today (Friday). pic.twitter.com/XPeP5boHLG — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 26, 2024 × President Droupadi Murmu hosts a banquet Earlier, Indian President Droupadi Murmu welcomed her French counterpart Emmanuel Macron at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where she hosted a banquet in his honour. Murmu, while welcoming President Macron, said that the leaders of the two nations being guests of honour in the National Day parade and celebrations of each other is a historic moment, and "a symbol of the depth of our friendship and the strength of our partnership". Watch: French President Macron enjoys Qawwali at Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi In his address, President Macron said, "It is with the most pleasure that we are here and to come back five years after our former state visit and five months after the success of your G20. We were extremely honoured to be part of such an important and unique day and to have our soldiers being alongside with you and being part of this exceptional moment. I think this is for everybody here in this delegation, in our memories forever," reported ANI. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: French President Macron enjoys Qawwali at Delhi’s Nizamuddin Dargah

<p>For years Sufi singer Rita Dewan captivated millions of followers in Bangladesh with her haunting ballads.</p>

<p>Today, she lives in fear each performance will be her last.</p>

<p>Accused of defaming Islam and targeted by religious radicals — a growing force in the Muslim majority country -- she spent months in hiding to escape death threats.</p>

<p>Rarely going out in daylight, she and her family fled to rural shanties and often went without food whilst living underground.</p>

<p>"YouTube is flooded with videos of Mullahs calling for my beheading," she tells AFP in tears. "I was too afraid to go to the toilet even. In rural areas they are mainly outside. I felt like [extremists] would find me and decapitate me."</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/protests-in-bangladesh-over-persecution-of-uyghurs-in-china-342841" hreflang="en">Protests in Bangladesh over persecution of Uyghurs in China</a></strong></p>

<p>Sufi Islam is considered deviant by conservative Muslim groups who oppose its mystical interpretation of the Koran.</p>

<p>The movement still has tens of millions of followers worldwide, but in Bangladesh the rise of hardliners has meant numbers are dropping.</p>

<p>In recent years, some two dozen Sufis have been killed by extremists in the South Asian country, some hacked to death.</p>

<p>Sufism has a long tradition in art and academia ranging from the poet Rumi to mathematician Omar Khayyam to modern Pakistani star Rahet Ali Khan.</p>

<p>But Sufis beliefs are increasingly under attack as un-Islamic and conservatives want to introduce strict blasphemy laws in Bangladesh, with the death penalty for offenders.</p>

<p><strong>Agony and ecstasy</strong></p>

<p>Dewan has been under pressure since a Youtube clip she appeared in went viral, attracting a storm of criticism.</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/greys-anatomy-to-get-mcdreamy-back-patrick-dempsey-makes-a-surprise-entry-in-the-season-premiere-of-the-show-342842" hreflang="en">'Grey's Anatomy' to get McDreamy back? Patrick Dempsey makes a surprise entry in the season premiere of the show</a></strong></p>

<p>In it, she makes comments about Islam in a singing duel against another artist, who plays a God.</p>

<p>Conservatives have filed at least four cases against Dewan accusing her of damaging religious sentiments and defaming Islam, a charge currently punishable by life in jail.</p>

<p>She insists the clip was taken out of context and shows just a few minutes of an eight-hour performance.</p>

<p>The star apologised but it was too late to stop the threats.</p>

<p>"Some Mullahs have used their sermons to brand me a coward prostitute and told people to kill me if they can find me," she explains.</p>

<p>The star is to make a first appearance in court on Sunday but decided to come out of hiding to perform an eight-hour show for fans at a famed Sufi shrine.</p>

<p>The 38-year-old said her "ecstasy" at being able to perform again was tempered by terror after seeing two men in the crowd she feared were fundamentalists who might harm her.</p>

<p>They left after two songs, but experts say such intimidatory tactics are not unusual.</p>

<p><strong>Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hidden-cameras-were-installed-in-my-jail-cell-and-washroom-says-maryam-nawaz-342639" hreflang="en">Hidden cameras were installed in my jail cell and washroom, says Maryam Nawaz</a></strong></p>

<p>Saymon Zakaria, a Bangladeshi researcher on traditional music said Sufi art is now under threat from those who want a hardline Islam imposed in the country.</p>

<p>"The situation is very critical," Zakaria told AFP .</p>

<p><strong>'Harrowing time'</strong></p>

<p>Rights researcher Rezaur Rahman Lenin said the cases against Dewan were part of a pattern to "censor artistic works".</p>

<p>"Artists and their performance are barred, and artists and academics detained and judicially harassed and persecuted on the grounds of insulting or hurting religious feelings," he said.</p>

<p>Male Sufi singer Shariat Sarker spent more than six months in jail this year after being accused of defaming Islam and is now in hiding because of death threats.</p>

<p>Dewan has already missed more than 60 shows because of police concerns about safety and security and says that as a result she has lost thousands of dollars in earnings.</p>

<p>"All of a sudden we became poor. My husband and my daughter are part of my team. All members of my troupe suffered. It's a harrowing time."</p>

<p>The star, who left school at the age of nine to train as a singer and regularly performed to vast crowds, is unsure how she can carry on.</p>

<p>Despite her recent show many shrines are still reluctant to work with her.</p>

<p>The court case makes Dewan fear for her own future but she remains defiant that the art will endure.</p>

<p>"No matter how powerful these Mullahs are this Sufi music tradition will live on in this country. Mullahs have called these songs haram -- prohibited in Islam -- but nowhere in the Koran is it said that music is haram," she insists.</p>

<p>"I am sure this music tradition will live on forever. It has been going on for centuries. People love it. It is pure joy. And Sufis will live here. It was the Sufis who brought Islam here centuries ago, not the hardliners. Bangladesh is the land of Sufis."</p>


For years Sufi singer Rita Dewan captivated millions of followers in Bangladesh with her haunting ballads. Today, she lives in fear each performance will be her last.

For years Sufi singer Rita Dewan captivated millions of followers in Bangladesh with her haunting ballads. Today, she lives in fear each performance will be her last. Accused of defaming Islam and targeted by religious radicals — a growing force in the Muslim majority country -- she spent months in hiding to escape death threats. Rarely going out in daylight, she and her family fled to rural shanties and often went without food whilst living underground. "YouTube is flooded with videos of Mullahs calling for my beheading," she tells AFP in tears. "I was too afraid to go to the toilet even. In rural areas they are mainly outside. I felt like [extremists] would find me and decapitate me." Also read| Protests in Bangladesh over persecution of Uyghurs in China Sufi Islam is considered deviant by conservative Muslim groups who oppose its mystical interpretation of the Koran. The movement still has tens of millions of followers worldwide, but in Bangladesh the rise of hardliners has meant numbers are dropping. In recent years, some two dozen Sufis have been killed by extremists in the South Asian country, some hacked to death. Sufism has a long tradition in art and academia ranging from the poet Rumi to mathematician Omar Khayyam to modern Pakistani star Rahet Ali Khan. But Sufis beliefs are increasingly under attack as un-Islamic and conservatives want to introduce strict blasphemy laws in Bangladesh, with the death penalty for offenders. Agony and ecstasy Dewan has been under pressure since a Youtube clip she appeared in went viral, attracting a storm of criticism. Also read| 'Grey's Anatomy' to get McDreamy back? Patrick Dempsey makes a surprise entry in the season premiere of the show In it, she makes comments about Islam in a singing duel against another artist, who plays a God. Conservatives have filed at least four cases against Dewan accusing her of damaging religious sentiments and defaming Islam, a charge currently punishable by life in jail. She insists the clip was taken out of context and shows just a few minutes of an eight-hour performance. The star apologised but it was too late to stop the threats. "Some Mullahs have used their sermons to brand me a coward prostitute and told people to kill me if they can find me," she explains. The star is to make a first appearance in court on Sunday but decided to come out of hiding to perform an eight-hour show for fans at a famed Sufi shrine. The 38-year-old said her "ecstasy" at being able to perform again was tempered by terror after seeing two men in the crowd she feared were fundamentalists who might harm her. They left after two songs, but experts say such intimidatory tactics are not unusual. Also read| Hidden cameras were installed in my jail cell and washroom, says Maryam Nawaz Saymon Zakaria, a Bangladeshi researcher on traditional music said Sufi art is now under threat from those who want a hardline Islam imposed in the country. "The situation is very critical," Zakaria told AFP . 'Harrowing time' Rights researcher Rezaur Rahman Lenin said the cases against Dewan were part of a pattern to "censor artistic works". "Artists and their performance are barred, and artists and academics detained and judicially harassed and persecuted on the grounds of insulting or hurting religious feelings," he said. Male Sufi singer Shariat Sarker spent more than six months in jail this year after being accused of defaming Islam and is now in hiding because of death threats. Dewan has already missed more than 60 shows because of police concerns about safety and security and says that as a result she has lost thousands of dollars in earnings. "All of a sudden we became poor. My husband and my daughter are part of my team. All members of my troupe suffered. It's a harrowing time." The star, who left school at the age of nine to train as a singer and regularly performed to vast crowds, is unsure how she can carry on. Despite her recent show many shrines are still reluctant to work with her. The court case makes Dewan fear for her own future but she remains defiant that the art will endure. "No matter how powerful these Mullahs are this Sufi music tradition will live on in this country. Mullahs have called these songs haram -- prohibited in Islam -- but nowhere in the Koran is it said that music is haram," she insists. "I am sure this music tradition will live on forever. It has been going on for centuries. People love it. It is pure joy. And Sufis will live here. It was the Sufis who brought Islam here centuries ago, not the hardliners. Bangladesh is the land of Sufis."

Bangladeshi star's comeback after Islamist death threats

<p>Part of the Wadali brothers duo,&nbsp;singer Ustad Pyarelal Wadali passed away due to cardiac arrest in Amritsar on Friday morning.</p>

<p>Pyarelal Wadali was also a younger brother of Ustad Puran Chand Wadali, the other vocalist of the legendary Punjabi Sufi music duo popularly known as Wadali Brothers.</p>

<p>He died at the age of 75 at Fortis Escorts Hospital of Amritsar where he was admitted on Thursday.</p>

<p>The Wadali Brothers have performed at numerous shows in India and other countries. Their famous numbers include &quot;<em>Tu </em><em>maane</em><em> ya </em><em>na</em><em> </em><em>maane</em><em> </em><em>dildara</em><em>, </em><em>aasan</em><em> </em><em>te</em><em> </em><em>tenu</em><em> </em><em>rab</em><em> </em><em>manya</em>&quot;.</p>

<p>Together, they had also composed and&nbsp;sung for few Bollywood movies like Pinjar (Darda Marya), Tanu Weds Manu (Aye Rangrez mere) and Mausam ( Ik tu hi tu hi).</p>

<p>Both brothers hailed from Amritsar district of Punjab and were the fifth generation of Wadali musical family.</p>

<p>Believers of Sufi traditions, Wadali brothers sang Gurbani, Kafi, ghazals&nbsp;and bhajans.</p>

<p>The brothers&nbsp;used to live at their&nbsp;ancestral house in Guru Ki Wadali, Amritsar and taught music to those who promised to preserve it without any charge.</p>

<p><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Pyarelal Wadali died at the age of 75 at Fortis Escorts Hospital of Amritsar in which he was admitted from Thursday.

Part of the Wadali brothers duo, singer Ustad Pyarelal Wadali passed away due to cardiac arrest in Amritsar on Friday morning. Pyarelal Wadali was also a younger brother of Ustad Puran Chand Wadali, the other vocalist of the legendary Punjabi Sufi music duo popularly known as Wadali Brothers. He died at the age of 75 at Fortis Escorts Hospital of Amritsar where he was admitted on Thursday. The Wadali Brothers have performed at numerous shows in India and other countries. Their famous numbers include "Tu maane ya na maane dildara, aasan te tenu rab manya". Together, they had also composed and sung for few Bollywood movies like Pinjar (Darda Marya), Tanu Weds Manu (Aye Rangrez mere) and Mausam ( Ik tu hi tu hi). Both brothers hailed from Amritsar district of Punjab and were the fifth generation of Wadali musical family. Believers of Sufi traditions, Wadali brothers sang Gurbani, Kafi, ghazals and bhajans. The brothers used to live at their ancestral house in Guru Ki Wadali, Amritsar and taught music to those who promised to preserve it without any charge.

Wadali brothers singer Pyarelal Wadali singer dies of cardiac arrest

<p><tt><em>&ldquo;Crazy! Crazy! Everyone says I am crazy!<br />
But often I wonder is it the world or me?&rdquo;</em></tt></p>

<p>(Translated in English from the original lines, these are the lyrics of a Baul song)</p>

<p>The folk song explores the relationship between an artiste&nbsp;and their passionate love for the divine, the nature and the body.</p>

<p>Dressed in simple clothes with unkempt hair, Baul performers are often seen driven with a strange eagerness to profess their love via music and dance. One such artiste is Parvathy Baul, who is internationally-acclaimed for her Baul song and dance sequences. Born in 1976, the Baul singer, musician and storyteller feels the need to &ldquo;contribute to this tradition as a practitioner&rdquo;.</p>

<p><strong>Music for Mind and Body</strong></p>

<p>To realise a taste for an old music form in a techno-savvy world today, Parvathy helps us understand the symbiotic relationship between mind and body, &ldquo;finding true self within--through music, dance and poetry&rdquo;.</p>

<p>Tracing the origin of Baul and its earliest form of practice, Parvathy narrates an episode between her Guru and herself: &ldquo;When I asked my Guru Sri Sanatan Das Baul, &lsquo;who is the first Baul?&rsquo;, his answer was Shiva. I then asked him why, to which he said, &lsquo;Look, he (Shiva) is mad, he left the golden palace and came to sit in cremation ground. Shiva represents our most ancient stream of wisdom&rsquo;. &nbsp;Baul stream is deeply rooted in our ever new culture of spiritual consciousness.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parvathy confirms that Baul songs are meant for all. She says, &ldquo;I too was born in a modern time where I grew up with the knowledge from east and west, listening to all kinds of music, but I found deep resonance inside me with Baul. Baul songs are timeless because these songs come from our conscious wisdom through many generations who observed life with great compassion. Therefore it is relevant for anyone who wants to find the true self within.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Apart from nurturing the best within an artiste, Baul, according to several researches is a love story between the divine and the performer. Parvathy narrates, &ldquo; I love this love story, I think every Baul does--story of Sufi Rabia. Once a man came to her and asked her : &lsquo;I have committed many sins. If I pray to the God will he show mercy on me?&rsquo; She replied with a no, and said that he will turn towards you and you will turn within--to turn towards him&rsquo;. Baul is about turning towards Him through voice and music while the beloved is turning along with Baul.&rdquo;</p>

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<h5>Baul follows the path of compassion and love, here the god is described as the &lsquo;Moner Manush&rsquo; or the Man of the heart, and he is manifested through everyone equally. Baul do not belong to any boundary.</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>She adds, &ldquo;Baul follows the path of compassion and love, here the god is described as the &lsquo;Moner Manush&rsquo; or the Man of the heart, and he is manifested through everyone equally. Baul do not belong to any boundary. There are quite a number of people who were inspired from this tradition, and has followed the Baul path in their lives.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parvathy also draws a similarity between Sufi and Baul style of music. She says, &ldquo;Baul songs and sufi songs have similarity in content and approach to poetry but singing style is very different. Baul songs were inspired and composed within the frame of original Bengali Music which includes folk music, tribal music, Bengali Drupad and Padavali traditions.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p><strong>Mystical Romance</strong></p>

<p>Born and raised in the eastern state of West Bengal in India, Parvathy did not belong to the community of Baul who identify themselves as a group of mystic minstrels, free from any religious identity. So how was she introduced to them?</p>

<p>Parvathy says, &ldquo;I wasn&#39;t exposed to Baul in my childhood, it&rsquo;s only when I came to study in Shantiniketan Kalabhavan as an art student, I got introduced to it. I started performing in 1994, so it&rsquo;s been 23 years now.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&ldquo;When I saw my Guru Sanatan Das Baul&rdquo;, she remarks when I ask her what is that one incident that made her leave everything else and submerge in the art form. She continues, &ldquo;I was drawn to Baul songs already by then when Baba came to perform in Kalabhavan. &nbsp;In those days, I was still contemplating and seeking inside (myself) to find completeness as an artist through art. I saw his performance--he was complete. When he was sipping his tea after a concert, I went up to him. I had seen artists and musicians before, but there was a certain aura (around him) which created magic--a yogi artist. Baul is about using the medium of art to experience inner transformation.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&ldquo;There is a beautiful story I must tell. When Savitri (Satyavan Savitri from Mahabharata) was shown darkness by death, she came up without fear. Then the Supreme showed her another face which was full of light that stayed on forever but it still did not satisfy her. She wanted to transform the darkness, so she went beyond light and darkness in her silence to a land where there is neither sun nor moon. Baul too is about going beyond music, dance and poetry, through all movement to achieve an inner stillness.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

<p>(Here Savitri&rsquo;s reference comes from Mahabharata, the Hindu mythology but Parvathy adds that the Baul community also derives aspiration from a poem called Savitri by Sri Aurobindo based on the same ancient story.)</p>

<p>&ldquo;It&#39;s very nice for me to discover the journey of aspiration through wise woman Savitri&rdquo;, Parvathy adds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Baul is about finding true self within--through music, dance and poetry (Facebook)</p>
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<p><strong>Celestial novelty</strong></p>

<p>Parvathy performs all across the world to revive and sustain the age old practice of Baul but she also believes that it&rsquo;s one of the easiest things to do, if you have the zeal. She says, &ldquo;Being a Baul you must keep yourself prepared always because singing is an everyday practice for a Baul. Everytime you sing anywhere, it will mostly be a satsang. Baul concerts are all about remembering poetry of wisdom. There&rsquo;s no pressure as it all depends on your inner being which in turn controls the expression of songs. We don&#39;t decide because even if you decide, you will sing only what is necessary, since the songs are those of the Masters and they make you sing.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Baul unlike any other music form does not fashion a strict structure of rhythm and style. It depends entirely on the individual and the passion with which performance is carried forth. Parvathy talks about synchronisation of music and dance while the artiste presents to an audience. She says, &ldquo;Dance happens with the flow of the song. Baul dance is not choreographed. Every time a Baul is dancing, it is spontaneous. Sometimes these conscious movements are ever new and the Baul may not be able to repeat it. It will almost be like asking a painter to rewind his paintings or asking the painter to paint the same painting exactly like before. The song and dancing together is unique in Baul as we hardly find any other tradition where the performer sings, dances and plays an instrument at the same time.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Baul not just differs in style but also in its message. Parvathy explains, &ldquo;The message is in the song, in the poetry. Baul is known as &lsquo;Shavda Gaan&rsquo;--word/ sound song, or spoken song-- a singing wisdom. Dance is &lsquo;Bhav Nritya&rsquo; where it is the true inner expression of pure joy of celebrating the union with the divine. &nbsp;This is the connection. Dance is the egoless state in Baul which is sometimes described as &rsquo;Sahaj Bhav&rsquo;.</p>

<p>&ldquo;Dance steps are learned from the Guru while performing Baul-- (you) stand only as an empty slate which is to be painted by the divine. So one must unlearn in order to dance. The essential being within us remembers and it will guide the body to move only in a disciplined way. Yet Baul wouldn&rsquo;t decide his &nbsp;steps. It is guided with the &lsquo;Bhav&rsquo; (English: feedback) which comes from the flow of the song and the meaning of the song.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>

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<h5>But I must say that a woman has to cross much more obstacles, and she has to be extraordinarily strong inside to keep her songs alive.</h5>
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<p><strong>Man-Woman bond</strong></p>

<p>While Baul art form addresses important issues of mind-body-soul, is it also gender-neutral?&nbsp;</p>

<p>Parvathy answers, &ldquo;Baul is Guru-Shishya (English: teacher-student) stream of learning and teaching process. So basically, one goes to learn first from a Guru. The student needs to&nbsp;go through tough training: discipline, improvement through time and come out as a mature practitioner. On successful completion, the Baul community will accept anyone devoid of class, caste, religion, culture or gender. But I must say that a woman has to cross much more obstacles, and she has to be extraordinarily strong inside to keep her songs alive.&rdquo;</p>

<p>To my question of what does it mean to be a woman Baul performer, she adds, &ldquo;There is a song in Baul: &lsquo;Oh my heart , I wonder where you are a man or a woman?&rsquo;. Within Baul, aspect of man and woman, both are inside the same body. We identify with sexuality in a biological manner only on the exterior while inside it&rsquo;s the same. The real work is to keep both energies equal but it takes great opening (exposure) within to recognise this truth.&rdquo;</p>

<p>She also thanks her Gurus for introducing her to the rich tradition of Baul. Reflecting on the strength of women performers, she says, &ldquo;I feel we have a lot to contribute to this tradition as a practitioner of this tradition. Women Baul practitioners living in small unknown villages contribute their one-minded devotion and service to keep the tradition alive. Though they do not usually take the front seat of a teacher but they hold the knowledge deep within them and help in passing it on to the next generation. These women continue to sing and fill the hearts of their listeners. I feel a lot more women will take up the role of practicing and teaching the Baul tradition in future.&rdquo;</p>

<p><strong>Staying in a Spiral of Love</strong></p>

<p>As a celebrated Baul artiste, Parvathy has achieved international fame and recognition. She has not only given private shows but has presented in various top-rated universities. A highly successful minstrel, Parvathy is a rare example of Baul as most come from disadvantaged areas of the world with almost no exposure to the world. They carry their traditional art form and pass it on to those who wish to learn. Parvathy at this point says, &ldquo;I would like to experience receiving love and giving love&rdquo;.</p>

<p>While many would not confirm with this style of music given the changing taste of younger generation, towards the end of the interview, Parvathy emphasises that there is no need for Baul to compete with today&rsquo;s brand of music. She says, &ldquo; Baul songs can be traced back to thousand years and now the tradition is deep and mature. Those who will be thirsty and will seek within will always return to Baul songs. Baul song is ever new because any man or woman&rsquo;s search for their true self, to seek true love &nbsp;will lead them to Baul, through pure music and dance.&rdquo;</p>

<p>Owing to the nature of music and rich cultural references, Baul is currently in the list of &ldquo;Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity&rdquo; conferred by UNESCO.</p>

<p>One of the songs she shared with us:</p>

<p><tt><em>Je jon poddohem sarovare Jai</em></tt></p>

<p><tt><em>One who goes to the golden lotus lake<br />
Finds the invaluable wealth of love<br />
Simply.<br />
The flow of that water is continuous<br />
Pearl and rubies hide in the deep&nbsp;<br />
The words not sufficient to describe<br />
If you touch&nbsp;<br />
You become the touch Stone.</em></tt></p>

<p><tt><em>In a moment the banks builds its shore<br />
In moment it breaks<br />
On that shore one can find that fish<br />
It&#39;s not a work of ordinary.</em></tt></p>

<p><tt><em>The waves comes and goes<br />
Without wind<br />
The river breaks into three in a blink<br />
In that flow the connoisseur<br />
Dives deep&nbsp;<br />
To gather pearls and rubies.</em></tt></p>

<p><tt><em>One who has guru as his boatman<br />
He can give shelter to many<br />
Fakir Lalan says , with the power of yoga<br />
He goes beyond the fear of death.</em></tt></p>

<p>(WION)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


With the young generation craving for Justin Bieber's music, Baul singers continue to search for true self within--through music, dance and poetry.

“Crazy! Crazy! Everyone says I am crazy! But often I wonder is it the world or me?” (Translated in English from the original lines, these are the lyrics of a Baul song) The folk song explores the relationship between an artiste and their passionate love for the divine, the nature and the body. Dressed in simple clothes with unkempt hair, Baul performers are often seen driven with a strange eagerness to profess their love via music and dance. One such artiste is Parvathy Baul, who is internationally-acclaimed for her Baul song and dance sequences. Born in 1976, the Baul singer, musician and storyteller feels the need to “contribute to this tradition as a practitioner”. Music for Mind and Body To realise a taste for an old music form in a techno-savvy world today, Parvathy helps us understand the symbiotic relationship between mind and body, “finding true self within--through music, dance and poetry”. Tracing the origin of Baul and its earliest form of practice, Parvathy narrates an episode between her Guru and herself: “When I asked my Guru Sri Sanatan Das Baul, ‘who is the first Baul?’, his answer was Shiva. I then asked him why, to which he said, ‘Look, he (Shiva) is mad, he left the golden palace and came to sit in cremation ground. Shiva represents our most ancient stream of wisdom’. Baul stream is deeply rooted in our ever new culture of spiritual consciousness.” Parvathy confirms that Baul songs are meant for all. She says, “I too was born in a modern time where I grew up with the knowledge from east and west, listening to all kinds of music, but I found deep resonance inside me with Baul. Baul songs are timeless because these songs come from our conscious wisdom through many generations who observed life with great compassion. Therefore it is relevant for anyone who wants to find the true self within.” Apart from nurturing the best within an artiste, Baul, according to several researches is a love story between the divine and the performer. Parvathy narrates, “ I love this love story, I think every Baul does--story of Sufi Rabia. Once a man came to her and asked her : ‘I have committed many sins. If I pray to the God will he show mercy on me?’ She replied with a no, and said that he will turn towards you and you will turn within--to turn towards him’. Baul is about turning towards Him through voice and music while the beloved is turning along with Baul.” Baul follows the path of compassion and love, here the god is described as the ‘Moner Manush’ or the Man of the heart, and he is manifested through everyone equally. Baul do not belong to any boundary. × She adds, “Baul follows the path of compassion and love, here the god is described as the ‘Moner Manush’ or the Man of the heart, and he is manifested through everyone equally. Baul do not belong to any boundary. There are quite a number of people who were inspired from this tradition, and has followed the Baul path in their lives.” Parvathy also draws a similarity between Sufi and Baul style of music. She says, “Baul songs and sufi songs have similarity in content and approach to poetry but singing style is very different. Baul songs were inspired and composed within the frame of original Bengali Music which includes folk music, tribal music, Bengali Drupad and Padavali traditions.” Baul follows the path of compassion and love (Facebook) × Mystical Romance Born and raised in the eastern state of West Bengal in India, Parvathy did not belong to the community of Baul who identify themselves as a group of mystic minstrels, free from any religious identity. So how was she introduced to them? Parvathy says, “I wasn't exposed to Baul in my childhood, it’s only when I came to study in Shantiniketan Kalabhavan as an art student, I got introduced to it. I started performing in 1994, so it’s been 23 years now.” “When I saw my Guru Sanatan Das Baul”, she remarks when I ask her what is that one incident that made her leave everything else and submerge in the art form. She continues, “I was drawn to Baul songs already by then when Baba came to perform in Kalabhavan. In those days, I was still contemplating and seeking inside (myself) to find completeness as an artist through art. I saw his performance--he was complete. When he was sipping his tea after a concert, I went up to him. I had seen artists and musicians before, but there was a certain aura (around him) which created magic--a yogi artist. Baul is about using the medium of art to experience inner transformation. Baul is about going beyond music, dance and poetry, through all movement to achieve an inner stillness. × “There is a beautiful story I must tell. When Savitri (Satyavan Savitri from Mahabharata) was shown darkness by death, she came up without fear. Then the Supreme showed her another face which was full of light that stayed on forever but it still did not satisfy her. She wanted to transform the darkness, so she went beyond light and darkness in her silence to a land where there is neither sun nor moon. Baul too is about going beyond music, dance and poetry, through all movement to achieve an inner stillness.” (Here Savitri’s reference comes from Mahabharata, the Hindu mythology but Parvathy adds that the Baul community also derives aspiration from a poem called Savitri by Sri Aurobindo based on the same ancient story.) “It's very nice for me to discover the journey of aspiration through wise woman Savitri”, Parvathy adds. Baul is about finding true self within--through music, dance and poetry (Facebook) × Celestial novelty Parvathy performs all across the world to revive and sustain the age old practice of Baul but she also believes that it’s one of the easiest things to do, if you have the zeal. She says, “Being a Baul you must keep yourself prepared always because singing is an everyday practice for a Baul. Everytime you sing anywhere, it will mostly be a satsang. Baul concerts are all about remembering poetry of wisdom. There’s no pressure as it all depends on your inner being which in turn controls the expression of songs. We don't decide because even if you decide, you will sing only what is necessary, since the songs are those of the Masters and they make you sing.” Baul unlike any other music form does not fashion a strict structure of rhythm and style. It depends entirely on the individual and the passion with which performance is carried forth. Parvathy talks about synchronisation of music and dance while the artiste presents to an audience. She says, “Dance happens with the flow of the song. Baul dance is not choreographed. Every time a Baul is dancing, it is spontaneous. Sometimes these conscious movements are ever new and the Baul may not be able to repeat it. It will almost be like asking a painter to rewind his paintings or asking the painter to paint the same painting exactly like before. The song and dancing together is unique in Baul as we hardly find any other tradition where the performer sings, dances and plays an instrument at the same time.” Baul not just differs in style but also in its message. Parvathy explains, “The message is in the song, in the poetry. Baul is known as ‘Shavda Gaan’--word/ sound song, or spoken song-- a singing wisdom. Dance is ‘Bhav Nritya’ where it is the true inner expression of pure joy of celebrating the union with the divine. This is the connection. Dance is the egoless state in Baul which is sometimes described as ’Sahaj Bhav’. “Dance steps are learned from the Guru while performing Baul-- (you) stand only as an empty slate which is to be painted by the divine. So one must unlearn in order to dance. The essential being within us remembers and it will guide the body to move only in a disciplined way. Yet Baul wouldn’t decide his steps. It is guided with the ‘Bhav’ (English: feedback) which comes from the flow of the song and the meaning of the song.” But I must say that a woman has to cross much more obstacles, and she has to be extraordinarily strong inside to keep her songs alive. × Man-Woman bond While Baul art form addresses important issues of mind-body-soul, is it also gender-neutral? Parvathy answers, “Baul is Guru-Shishya (English: teacher-student) stream of learning and teaching process. So basically, one goes to learn first from a Guru. The student needs to go through tough training: discipline, improvement through time and come out as a mature practitioner. On successful completion, the Baul community will accept anyone devoid of class, caste, religion, culture or gender. But I must say that a woman has to cross much more obstacles, and she has to be extraordinarily strong inside to keep her songs alive.” To my question of what does it mean to be a woman Baul performer, she adds, “There is a song in Baul: ‘Oh my heart , I wonder where you are a man or a woman?’. Within Baul, aspect of man and woman, both are inside the same body. We identify with sexuality in a biological manner only on the exterior while inside it’s the same. The real work is to keep both energies equal but it takes great opening (exposure) within to recognise this truth.” She also thanks her Gurus for introducing her to the rich tradition of Baul. Reflecting on the strength of women performers, she says, “I feel we have a lot to contribute to this tradition as a practitioner of this tradition. Women Baul practitioners living in small unknown villages contribute their one-minded devotion and service to keep the tradition alive. Though they do not usually take the front seat of a teacher but they hold the knowledge deep within them and help in passing it on to the next generation. These women continue to sing and fill the hearts of their listeners. I feel a lot more women will take up the role of practicing and teaching the Baul tradition in future.” Staying in a Spiral of Love As a celebrated Baul artiste, Parvathy has achieved international fame and recognition. She has not only given private shows but has presented in various top-rated universities. A highly successful minstrel, Parvathy is a rare example of Baul as most come from disadvantaged areas of the world with almost no exposure to the world. They carry their traditional art form and pass it on to those who wish to learn. Parvathy at this point says, “I would like to experience receiving love and giving love”. While many would not confirm with this style of music given the changing taste of younger generation, towards the end of the interview, Parvathy emphasises that there is no need for Baul to compete with today’s brand of music. She says, “ Baul songs can be traced back to thousand years and now the tradition is deep and mature. Those who will be thirsty and will seek within will always return to Baul songs. Baul song is ever new because any man or woman’s search for their true self, to seek true love will lead them to Baul, through pure music and dance.” Owing to the nature of music and rich cultural references, Baul is currently in the list of “Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity” conferred by UNESCO. One of the songs she shared with us: Je jon poddohem sarovare Jai One who goes to the golden lotus lake Finds the invaluable wealth of love Simply. The flow of that water is continuous Pearl and rubies hide in the deep The words not sufficient to describe If you touch You become the touch Stone. In a moment the banks builds its shore In moment it breaks On that shore one can find that fish It's not a work of ordinary. The waves comes and goes Without wind The river breaks into three in a blink In that flow the connoisseur Dives deep To gather pearls and rubies. One who has guru as his boatman He can give shelter to many Fakir Lalan says , with the power of yoga He goes beyond the fear of death. (WION)

The divine, the nature and the body: Parvathy Baul in conversation with WION

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The divine, the nature and the body: Parvathy Baul in conversation with WION