Parvati Bowl takes you to a world of wandering minarets

The Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts (IGNCA) in association with the Dhatri Foundation and Ekthara Kalari presented ‘The World of the Bowles’, a unique festival that provided an authentic glimpse into the mystic world of the Bauls. Conceived by Katyayani Agarwal, founder-trustee of Dhatri Foundation and curated by Parvati Baul, the festival will include a book release, a session on Baul philosophy, a panel discussion and a question/answer session on ‘Yoga of Baul’, a photo exhibition was involved. Wood-cut artwork of the multifaceted Parvati, the Baul masters and their daily practices, which took visitors on a guided tour through the exhibition, explaining the intricacies of the Baul tradition and satsang.

Inaugurated by IGNCA President Ram Bahadur Rai, who also released the book Baul Premik written by Late Sanatan Das Baul, the two-day festival delve deeper into the origin, history and philosophy of this ascetic tradition and its present dimensions. Baul anthem’ which attracts large crowds across the world.

The Bauls sing, play their instruments, and dance all at once, completely drenched in devotion. In fact, Baul anthem is the essence of Indian spirituality.

Parvati, a devoted disciple of Sanatan Das, has established the Sanatan Siddha Ashram and Ekthara Kalari in Virbhoomi, West Bengal in his memory. She shared that her guru believed that Shiva was the first Baul, who left home to live in the cremation ground. “There are two paths of spiritual practice – the Aghori Shiva, who performs cremation, the Kali Tantra path, and the Sahaja Sadhana with Vamachara (tantric rituals). The second path comes from the Guru Parampara, where the disciple acquires knowledge by staying close to the Guru. assimilate.

The Bauls are also seen as a yogic tradition. Parvati said that singing is a simple way to understand the truth. “Baul Geet is the Maha-mantra. It is Shabd-jnana. The word is Brahman, and you can feel it through song and music”.

Artists performing at Baul Satsang with Parvati Baul. , photo credit: Subhrajyoti Talapatra

Baul music may sound like folk but there is a difference, Parvati explained. It starts late and gradually moves to a rapid climax. This Vaishnava verse is close to kirtan as it is derived from the Dhrupad Prabandha and the Buddhist hymn. Lalan Fakir has used old ragas where Bilawal himself has 16 types. He hummed a song which sounded like Raag Desh but it was a variant of Bilawal. Baul music is also influenced by Rabindra Sangeet and Dhrupad of Vishnupur Gharana.

Parvati Bowl. , photo credit: special arrangement

The ‘melodious bhakti’ of Radha-Madhava-Gopi Bhava was echoed melodically throughout the Baul Satsang, where not only Parvati but also Vishweshwar Baul, Madan Das, Lakshman Das, and many Bauls touched the hearts of the Rasikas.

The critics of Delhi write on classical arts.