Folksy tunes ring the air in Lalbagh

Folksy tunes ring the air in Lalbagh
Deccan Herald

hues. On Saturday, the ‘Janapada Jaathre’ - an effort to bring the urban populace face-to-face with their roots through folk art, witnessed a huge turnout of over 1,000 people.

A drifting cloud set the evening sky free, as though paving the way for a confluence – of folk art in its different hues. On Saturday, the ‘Janapada Jaathre’ - an effort to bring the urban populace face-to-face with their roots through folk art, witnessed a huge turnout of over 1,000 people.

The folk festival, which was hosted for the first time in front of the Vidhana Soudha a fortnight ago, was shifted to Lalbagh this time, with a promise to return every fourth Saturday and Sunday.

‘Janapadakke Marali’ - a call to return to ones’ roots was the message that was beautifully delivered to the audience by a team of 222 folk artistes from across the State.


Sheer joy took centrestage as artistes ‘rode’ the ‘keelukudure’ (horse), ‘peacocks’ and ‘giants’ (on stilts) took a stroll in the illuminated lanes of Lalbagh. Watching the masked faces in ‘Somana Kunita’, cheerful beats of ‘nagari’ and ‘tamate’, rhythm of the ‘kolata’ and the sudden distraction in the form of ‘Bhoota Nruthya’, one got acquainted with the various folk cultures of Mysore, Mandya, Anekal and Dakshina Kannada. No troupe or art form, presented at the Vidhana Soudha was repeated here.

The ritualistic folk art forms of rural communities, were interspersed with the urban experimentation of folk dances by the City-based troupes. “The festival has infused new enthusiasm among the youth — both to practice and to appreciate folk art,” says Sankara (29), a ‘Nagori’ artiste from Mysore, almost summing up the spirit of the festival.

On the occasion, a CD of a collection of folk songs by renowned folk artistes was released by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.