The project was initiated by Mathura MP Hema Malini
Vrindavan, 2022-08-05 (Vrindavan Today News): The Uttar Pradesh Braj Teerth Vikas Parishad (UPBTVP) has started recording for the ‘Digital Library of Braj Folk Songs’, announced in April this year. The project was initiated on the eve of Hariyali Teej from Naujheel village with a video recording of rural womenfolk singing ‘malhar’ and folk songs welcoming the monsoon.
Braj culture expert Dr. Umesh Chandra Sharma shared, “rural Braj is a mine of art and talent. Every season, every festival, and every folk tale associated with it has been rendered in the form of beautiful songs that will all be recorded as part of this exhaustive project.”
BTVP is encouraging skilled women and men folk artists from Braj and neighboring districts like Aligarh, Hathras, Agra and Bharatpur to come forward and showcase their talent. The Parishad team will contact them once they have expressed interest in participating. Dr. Rashmi Varma, research coordinator at Vrindavan’s Gita Shodh Sansthan, and Chandra Pratap Singh Sikarwar will be acting as the point of contact.
The ‘Digital Library of Braj Folk Songs’ project was initiated by Mathura MP Hema Malini to preserve the vanishing culture of Braj. Under the initiative, a team of BTVP officials will travel all across rural Braj to compile songs in audio-visual format. Artists will also be paid for the performances.