Straight from the heart...

Rukhsana Ahmed Baby rendering the happiness and pain of the people through the traditional Baul songs.

The four-day Folk Music Festival organized jointly by UNESCO and Shilpakala Academy saw yet another day on the 27th of June dedicated to the bauls and their heart wrenching stories. The pouring heavy rain outside didn't seem to bother any of the performers, nor did the audience hassle over the minor detail. Instead, the rain caused everyone to enjoy the performances much more.

These strong and gallant voiced people, dressed in bright yellow, green, red and orange apparels with long hair sang with all their heart, giving out messages related to religion, the ways of the society, the thoughts of animals, birds and nature in general. Not only were their men, but also the women folk singing for the harmony of all people belonging to different religions and castes in the country. Some of the songs drew a clear picture of the villages where the wet earth could be felt beneath the feet, where the beautiful scent of the traditionally baked bread could be smelt and where the happiness and pain of the people living in these places could be seen. One of the singers even sang about a girl crying for her lover who had left her for another woman.

Interestingly, their facial expressions, gestures and vibrant body language expressed their enthusiasm. They danced along with their self made compositions on stage, and made the audience do the same. The singers were accompanied by various kinds of instruments such as the harmonium, the flute, the traditional dotara, dholak, tabla, mandira and also the violin.

Creeping back stage, I found different generations of baul singers sitting and waiting for their turn on stage. Some of them were also seen fixing their colourful turbans and belts. Some of them were eager to talk about their music and also their lives. Most of them described this music to be a way of their lives, eventually becoming a part of their whole selves. A certain performer was seen dancing with all the performing groups. His gestures, movements and various feats on stage had everyone clapping and asking for more. When asked as to why he didn't have a group of his own like all the others at the show, he replied that people kept tricking him and would never pay him for his performances. That's why he preferred to work with all the different groups and earn his living.

A UNESCO official present at the show said that they arrange a show dedicated to folk music every year where they try to promote the folk art or the living art of Bangladesh, as defined, to everyone everywhere.