‘LOKLAYA’:Two Days Folk Music and Dance Programme in ABSSS

There was music, dance, poetry and zeal all around ABSSS campus as some 200 folklore artists from Chitrakoot and other Districts - some with and without invitation gathered to enjoy and more so live the folklore tradition of Bundhelkhand. The occasion that brought them together was the ‘Loklaya’ festival celebrated on 27th and 28th October,2012 in Chitrakoot,UP.The artists though economically modest, were bursting with the wealth of art in its true and rustic form.

What made these 200 artists travel from long distances to perform in the Loklay program? When asked, one participants from khol community replied, “I am not here for money, this art form has given me an identity and recognition. I am respected for my work which is why I am here”. The artists are skillful musicians and dancers but are entirely untrained in the art of performing in front of an audience. They sing for themselves, they dance for their own pleasure, they create music from instruments made of animal skin and utensils such as tawa, loota, thali, chammach, chimta. These countryside voices gel with the homemade musical instruments to create a lasting magic in the air and keep the audience glued to their seats for hours.

Sadly, the folk dance and music forms of Bundhelkhand are dying and there is a dire need to provide them financial support, legal identity and training. Many artists fail to prove their credentials at the national level due to lack of identity card given by the government or a registered NGO. These artists are not professional singers and dancers and need to be trained in the art of public performance. They require training in posture, holding a mike, voice modulation, and customizing their performances as per occasion/audience. These were the few thoughts shared by folklore artists of Bundhelkhand in great dismay.

Addressing the audience, Gopalji, Founder of ABSSS said, “Folklores are threads that develop the fabric of society .These threads swing the tana bana of society, so we should support this dying art form”.

There is an imperative need for government intervention and sponsorship that can support and sustain these artists and the dying art form of Bundhelkahnd.