Our Folk Musicians
Balkrishna & Lal Krishna Dhangar
The Dhangars historically have been the Milkmen of the village. Usually singing in groups, the Dhangars we have collaborated with have chosen to propagate Nimadi folk songs and Kabir bhajans. It deals with songs of the land, celebration and even witty literature about life and human beings/behaviour that fits in all sorts of environments from celebrations to mournings. Primarily having learnt Kabir Bhajans from their Guru, they live a life and propagate the messages for Kabir in Nimadi (Regional language of Nimad, MP). They have also played a whole bunch of Kabir festivals before like Kabir Utsav, Maheshwar Jal Utsav, Hanuman tiya mandav festival, Kabir Pratakya utsav (Banaras).
In their own words,
“ Kabir Kabir kya karo , socho apno shareer
Aur daso indriya bus kar lo toh ban jaao saheb Kabir”.
Bichoo Nath Baba
Bichoo Nath baba comes from a Nath tradition. Nath are a Shaiva sub-tradition within Hinduism in India and Nepal. This tradition is divided in 12 streams or Panths.
Bichoo Nath baba comes from the sect that follows the ideology of Gorak Nath Baba. This tradition was influenced by other Indian movements such as Bhakti movement through saints such as Kabir and Namdev. Hence, they sing songs based on Kabir’s writings. In the album as well, Bichoo Nath baba has sung a Kabir Bhajan.
The Harbolas
The Harbolas are the OG Indian freestyle rappers who can rhyme and spit about anything under the sun. They have been around since pre-independence and usually work in pairs. They have a pumpkin based shaker and a tong like Ching stick to keep the groove going. All harbors sing the same melody as the rhymes keep changing.
Back in their hay day, they would go from village to village and climb on the main Panchayat tree where they would start performing the news which eventually became more entertaining as their Sarcasm kicked in. The village Panchayat would then have to bring them down by giving money. Over time they have reduced quite a bit in number and were the toughest to find in our journey of the hunt for artists.
Dashrath Bhandole
Dashrath Dada “Chichli Dhol”, is trying to preserve a very ancestral form of Drumming. The Nimadi culture has a lot of festivals and celebrations that calls for the Dhol to come out. These grooves are Celebratory, Dance oriented and also spiritual and shamanaic.
During the festival of Gangour, grooves such as ‘Khadi Chaal’ are used to guide possessed participants through their journey of possession.
The sound of the Dhol itself is very special as it is completely handmade with a very specific process that only Dashrath Dada knows. He said each drum takes about 6 months to make.
Kumawat Sisters
Kumawat Sisters are a Nimadi Ladies group that are preserving a tradition that involves group Ladies singing during ceremonies and festivals such as Gangour and prayers during times of wedding celebrations. They are not trained musicians and have learnt the tradition through passing of knowledge through elders and ancestors.
On the album, they sing the song “Saragbhavanti”, which is a prayer, done at the start of any auspicious occasion, to invite the ones who have passed to come be part of the celebrations. The title translates to “Swarg me rehne wale” or “the ones living in heaven”.