STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) presented a programme of traditional ‘Bhakh Singing’ here at K.L Sehgal Hall on Tuesday featuring Asha Kesar and her group who mesmerised the audience through their soulful singing presentations.
Earlier welcoming the august gathering, the Regional Director of ICCR Jammu & Kashmir, Balwant Thakur gave a brief view about the activities, initiatives and programmes of ICCR in Jammu.
Introducing the artist and the art form, Balwant Thakur said that ‘Bhakh’ singing of Dogras is one of the rarest matchless singing styles which have given a unique identity to this part of the world in the field of music. Sung without the accompaniment of any instrument Bhakh Singers through their traditional practices amazingly sing on different musical notes and create out of the world musicals.
Asha Kesar- a self taught singer started her learning of Bhakh at early childhood from her grandparents and after years of devotion and continuous practice she shot to National fame from the recently held ‘Jammu Kashmir Mahotsav’ organised by Department Culture Government of Madhya Pradesh at Bharat Bhawan Bhopal.
In today’s programme, she surprised everyone in the audience with her unique style of singing and her presentation of Bhakh expressed hope in the fact that this legacy of contemporary Bhakh Singing started by Late Praduman Singh will continue to mesmerize future generations.
Asha Kesar was ably given the accompaniment by yet other praiseworthy melodious singers Sudesh Manhas and Sonika Jamwal. Rakesh Masih added lot of colour through his professional flute playing and Rajeev Kumar and Rajesh Kumar accompanied on Rhythm and Harmonium. The programme was very well conducted by Anil Tickoo.
Among those present on the occasion include Kripal Singh, Kumar A Bharti, Subash Jamwal, Yashpal Yash, Suresh Kumar and Sumeet Sharma.
