Music for Peace: Folk Music of Bengal
  • Banglanatakdotcom, a UNESCO-accredited NGO in India, works under the slogan ‘Art for Life.’ The organization conducts many projects to build the capacities of traditional arts communities. Banglanatakdotcom kindly provided ICHCAP with this selection of traditional Bengali music. ICHCAP is sharing these materials on the e-Knowledge Center to further disseminate valuable ICH information. The two hundred tracks in the selection include wide range of genres in traditional Bengali music, performed by traditional musicians in the region. This selection of music represents a comprehensive overview of traditional music from the Bengal region of India for both experts and the general public. It is a meaningful documentation project that raises the visibility of rare audio resources while safeguarding and promoting the value of ICH.
  • Do not look for God anywhere, look for Him in the human body. The Bauls & Fakirs are conveying the message of peace through their music, they reject division of caste, creed, religion etc. The Bauls are minstrels whose song and dance reflect the joy, love and longing for mystical union with the Divine. The Bauls believe that one can free oneself from earthly attachments through their philosophy. Murshid or Guru is the steersman who takes the devotee to God. They propound detachment from earthly bonds or ties.

Audios