Offbeat News
Pritam Bharthwan teaching US students tips of Jaagar singing
Sounds interesting, rather a matter of proud that one of the renowned folk singers of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand Preetam Bhartwan is a music teacher to the American students. A highly sought after JAAGAR SINGER, specialised in melodious singing of spiritual and folk songs in veneration of the regional dieties, God and Goddeses Pritam Bhartwan has to his credit hundreds of such mesmerising spiritual songs called Jaagar in regional Garhwali and Kumaoni dialects enticing and entertaining millions of the music lovers in and outside Uttarakhand including abroad. Bhartwan is a popular and well acclaimed singer not only in Uttarakhand but globally and is rated number one in JAAGAR SINGING. Jaagar, primarily means to be awakened.
Jaagar is primarily melodious singing to invite local dieties on various spiritual ocassions in Uttarakhand for the welbeing of its inhabitants. Its an ancient practice earlier confined to the hilly areas but now after the massive migration of the hill people to cities, towns and metropolises this old practice of JAAGAR singing has crossed boundaries and even transcended India boundaries. The main intruments used in Jaagar are Dhol Damaus, the ancient musical intruments but these days in order to make Jaagar singing more attractive, mesmerising and modern various hi tech musical instruments are used. In metropolises like Mumbai and Delhi when this highly in demand, Uttarakhandi music and singing player, specialist of JAAGAR performs the crowd surges in thousands and is rated as one of the most sought after Folk and Jaagar singer in Uttarakhand globally.
It has been learn that his singing has become so popular and acceptable that even the American students are interested to learn Jaagar Singing over DHOLS. These days the Indian and Uttarakhandi King of Jagaar Pritam Bhartwaan is given training to the American boys and girls and is in Minisota, USA. Its indeed a great achievement and privilege fir Uttarakhandi folk and spiritual singers that they are being recognised worldwide, not only by their people but by foreigners as well. It may be recalled that in Uttarakhand these days only two singers are extremely popular and highly sought after and they are, veteran singer, literateur and linguist Natendra Singh Negi and Pritam Bhartwan who also have to their credit besides hundreds of public performances thousands of music CDs being heard globally.
SUNIL NEGI, PRESIDENT, UTTARAKHAND JOURNALISTS FORUM