Concert for forgotten folk instruments

Lucknow: Sound of folk instrument Chameli that was played in most of the pre-Independence 'Azadi' songs in rural India before it gradually faded into oblivion will be heard once again in the city this weekend.
Along with it, 26 other instruments that are on the verge of vanishing will be played to acquaint people with the rich folk music.
The gala evening is part of Sanjhi Virasat, a culture fest organised by culture department at the amphitheatre in Lohia Park.30 folk artists from the remotest parts of the state are invited to play instruments-besides Chameli-the sarangi, dukkad, shehnai, madal, pakhawaj, jal tarang and paddle harmonium.
Sheikh Ibrahim, the choreographer of the event told TOI artists playing these instruments belong to villages of Sonbhadra, Sandeela, Sitapur, Barabanki, Gorakhpur, Hardoi, Rae Bareli, Jhansi and Varanasi districts. Though they are not full-time musicians, they have inherited the art of playing these instruments.
"The musician playing tribal shehnai in our group is a daily wage labourer by profession who has been playing the instrument since childhood and can render all sorts of music including tunes of film songs," shared Ibarahim.