Gaan, Bajna, and Tradition: Bishnupur Music Festival
- Ranu Das
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
The Bishnupur Gharana dates back to the 13th century and follows the Dhrupad tradition. This gharana owes much of its fame to Bahadur Khan, who played a key role in shaping its style. Bishnupur, once ruled by the Malla Kings under the Mughal Empire, has always been a hub of art and culture in Eastern India. The Bishnupur Music Festival, therefore, honours the legends of this tradition and keeps its legacy alive.
The Bishnupur Gharana of Hindustani Classical Music, the only specialist method of Indian Classical Music of Bengal, originated in the 13th Century following the Dhrupad tradition. Once the domain of the Malla Kings who owed allegiance to the Mughal Empire, Bishnupur has historically been the cultural capital of Eastern India. Bishnupur Music Festival, an unique initiative of West Bengal Tourism Department, pays homage to the pioneers of the tradition and keeps the rich cultural tradition alive. The Bishnupur gharana remains the only vocal gharana of West Bengal, and owes much of its popularity to Bahadur Khan. A descendant of Tansen and a dhrupad vocalist of the Senia gharana, Khan fled Aurangzeb's court, like many other musicians, and settled in Bishnupur, already known for its patronage of the arts. An accomplished vocalist and instrumentalist, Bahadur Khan became the court musician of king Raghunath Singh Deo II, and soon acquired a number of disciples. Today, the Bishnupur Music Festival, a unique initiative of the West Bengal Tourism Department, pays homage to those long-ago pioneers, and keeps the rich cultural heritage of the land of the Malla kings alive.
The festival gives artists a platform to perform classical music and present the special musical style of Bishnupur, which is the only vocal gharana in West Bengal. Today, the festival is held at Jor Shrenir Mandir in Bishnupur, where music and local culture come together to create a warm and engaging experience for visitors.
During the festival, the famous Pora Matir Haat is organised on a much larger scale. It is not a performers’ stage, but a vibrant handicrafts fair that showcases the rich artistic traditions of Bishnupur. Visitors can explore terracotta works, Baluchari sarees, dokra art, handmade crafts, and many other local creations. Alongside this, food stalls serve authentic local street food, adding to the festive charm of the surroundings. If you would like to know more about Pora Matir Haat and its significance, you can read our detailed article on it.
If you wish to experience Bishnupur Gharana music more closely, we can also arrange special private listening sessions on request. Through such initiatives, Bishnupur Getaway tries to share the rich culture and musical heritage of Bishnupur with people beyond the region.
