Folk singer rues fading glory of Jagar

Tribune News Service

Mussoorie, January 17

Basanti Bisht, a renowned folk artiste, has popularised a traditional form of singing, called Jagar, across the country through her efforts. But she is sad at the low turnout for her performance at the ongoing Magh Mela in Uttarkashi.

“Perhaps, it is the effect of the cold, accompanied with the election code of conduct, that the audiences have failed to attend my show during the Mela,” she said.

Basanti sang several folk numbers, invoking the various deities of Garhwal, much to the delight of the audience, although it was not large in number. Later, speaking to The Tribune, she said she had performed to a housefull audience wherever she went around the country and it was the first time that the audience was sparse.

“I sing for the Gods,” said the singer who, through her melodious voice, has been able to preserve the Jagar singing heritage of the region from the past several decades.

She said Jagar was the purest form of singing and it should not be changed into any form of song or westernised style of singing as it would lose its essence.

The folk artiste said she started her journey in traditional music from Lawani village in Chamoli district in 1953. She used to perform daily chores in the village as any other woman from the hills and used to sing during small functions in the village. She started singing later in the age. Through a window of opportunity provided by Akashwani radio station and the support of her husband, she travelled across the country and performed Jagars in traditional form in front of varied audience and received immense love and affection.

On the advice of many well-wishers, she has also written a book describing the various Jagars that are sung in praise of the fairies and the local deities of Garhwal. However, the government should do more to preserve this form of art, which is an integral part of Uttarakhandi culture, she said.

Her name was recommended for Padam Shri seven times but since she did not have approach to the higher echelons of bureaucracy, she was refused the award, the singer alleged.

Garhwali food draws crowds

• The ‘Garh Bhoj stall’ is becoming a major attraction of the ongoing Magh Mela in Uttarkashi. It is serving  local Garhwali cuisine in a presentable manner and has been able to tickle the taste buds of food connoisseurs.
• Tourists and residents of the town are savouring dishes prepared using local produce, namely mandua (finger millet), Jhangora, Kandali (nettle leaves), gahat dal (cereal) etc.
• “We have tried to innovate the existing dishes and create a fusion food using local produce, such as momos stuffed with gahath dal and cheese, kuchai paranthas, pakoras prepared with urad dal, mouth-watering jalebis prepared using ghee and kheer prepared using gahath dal and jhangora,” says Ajai Puri, president of the Uttarkashi Hotel Association and a co-organiser of the ‘Garh Bhoj stall’, along with Zila Panchayat, Uttarkashi.
• He says the whole idea was to promote the local cuisine so that people starts savouring these dishes in large numbers and farmers were able to benefit economically. A traditional look has been given to the stall, reminding people of the village life, by placing tools and equipment which are used by farmers in the field, Puri adds.
• Samagra Singh from Delhi says they have a lot to take back from the Magh Mela and tasting the Garhwali food for the first time was a memorable experience. 
• The Additonal Mukhya Nagar Adhikari, Zila Panchayat Uttarkashi, says the ‘Garh Bhoj stalls’ have become a major attraction of the Mela and such stalls will be made a regular part of in the future.