| Ballads & Legends |
| Aalha (Bundel Khandi) |
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A tale of two warriors Alha & Udal, very popular in the Bundelkhand region |
| Bhada (Kumaoni) |
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A kind of ballad singing in which tales of brave warriors are narrated. |
| Dulla Batti (Punjabi) |
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A tale of a young Rajput's quest for revenge. |
| Heer Ranjha (Punjabi) |
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A story of great lovers, Heer and Ranjha. |
| Mirza Sahiba (Punjabi) |
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The tragic ballad of the lovers, Mirza and Sahiba. |
| Kavishri (Punjabi) |
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Dynamic legends of the Sikh warriors rendered without instruments |
| Malushahi (Kumaoni) |
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Excerpts from a famous ballad about the king 'Malushah'. |
| Pooran Bhagat(Punjabi) |
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Ballad about Pooran Bhagat who embraces spirituality. |
| Ramaul (Kumaoni) |
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Ballads about kings from the Ramaul dynasty. |
| Sami Dhola (Punjabi) |
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Dance of the Baazigar tribe (It is a traditional dances songs) |
| Sassi Punnu (Punjabi) |
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The tragic ballad of the lovers, Sassi and Punnu. |
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| Child birth songs |
| Child Birth Songs |
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A special Child birth songs collection. |
| Badhai |
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Sung at the birth of a son |
| Sohar |
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Celebrating the birth of a child. |
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| Community songs |
| Baul Gaan |
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Songs of the wandering minstrels of Bengal, the famous Bauls |
| Biraha |
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Songs of the Ahir community |
| Dhobiya |
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Songs of the Dhobi (Washer man) community. |
| Kaharauva |
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Songs of the 'Kahar' community which carries palanquins. |
| Mallaha |
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Songs of the boat men |
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| Diverse songs |
| Bair (Kumaoni) |
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Celebrating the birth of a child. |
| Bharud |
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Usually satirical songs, popular in Maharastra |
| Bhavgeet |
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Song speaking of human emotions, popular in Maharashtra |
| Bidesiya |
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A form popular in Eastern UP- the songs usually follow a theme of separation |
| Chhapeli (Kumaoni) |
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A song sung during weddings, fairs & festivals to which a group of people dance. |
| Dadra |
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Mostly speaking of love - they have now found a place in semi classical traditions. |
| Dhola (Braji) |
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These are excerpts from the tale of love known as, 'Dhola ka Panvara' or 'Dhola-Maaru' |
| Geet |
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Diverse songs. |
| Guru Vandana |
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Sung in praise of the 'Guru' or teacher. |
| Induni (Rajasthani) |
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Sung usually by women while they go to fetch water. |
| Jhoda (Kumaoni) |
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A song to be danced to by a group during weddings, fairs & festivals. |
| Jhumar |
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Mostly love songs with a lilting quality. |
| Jugni (Punjabi) |
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Romantic folk songs typically sung by men. |
| Lachari |
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A form that encompasses many other forms, sung only by women. |
| Lavani |
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A popular form of dance and music in the Sringara Rasa |
| Mele Ke Geet (Rajasthani) |
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Vibrant and festive songs sung by groups in fairs. |
| Natya Sangeet |
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Songs accompanyin dances, very popular in Maharashtra |
| Nyoli (Kumaoni) |
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Usually love/ separation songs- also known as forest songs. |
| Purabiya |
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Many of these are on the theme of separation. They are popular in Eastern UP. |
| Rashtriya Geet |
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Songs with a nationalistic flavour. |
| Rasiya (Braji) |
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Sung at the time of Holi in the Braj region. |
| Shakunakhar Geet (Kumaoni) |
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Songs sung on auspicious occasions. |
| Sufiyana Qalam |
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Sung with the message that "a human being is in the world but not of it", writings of the Sufi saints make for the Sufiyana Qalam. |
| Vikas Geet |
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Songs of progress. |
| Yatra Geet |
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Sung during long journeys. |
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| Religious/ festival songs |
| Ramnavami |
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Songs celebrating the birth of Lord Sri Ram |
| Abhang |
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Songs that narrate the wise words of the saints. |
| Bhajan |
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Sung as prayers or descriptions of a God or Goddess |
| Bhawani |
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Tributes to Bhawani, the goddess of strength. |
| Chhat (Bhojpuri) |
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Songs sung on the festival of Chhat in Sep- Oct, very popular in the Bhojpuri belt. |
| Devi |
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Sung in prayer to one of the many Goddesses of India, usually at the beginning of a performance. |
| Gajar |
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A religious form that is usually sung by a group of people. |
| Ganesh Stuti |
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An invocation to Ganesh is done at the start of any performance. |
| Ganga Puja |
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Sung as a prayer to the sacred river Ganges |
| Jagar (Kumaoni) |
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Sung to invoke the Gods in a human body. |
| Janmashtami |
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Janmashtami, The birth of Lord Krishna. |
| Jogava |
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These are sung by a group collectively. |
| Kabir Vani |
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Words of the famous Kabir, perhaps the most quoted saint poet to have lived in India. |
| Katha Devnarayan Ki |
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One of the many historical tales that celebrate warriors and rever them like Gods. |
| Meera Bhajan |
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Meerabai, the famous devotee of Krishna, wrote many songs about Krishna. |
| Nirgun |
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Songs talking of the union of the soul with the creator. |
| Pachra (Bhojpuri) |
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A prayer to Sheetala Mata, the Godess of 'small pox'. |
| Parati |
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Early morning songs - often sung by women on their way for a dip in the Ganges. |
| Sanja |
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Mother Sanja's festival is celebrated by unmarried girls.. |
| Singhaji Bhajan |
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Singhji, is revered by a large number of people, especially in the Malwa belt. |
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| Season
Songs
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| Barahmasa |
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A song of all seasons |
| Chaita |
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Sung in the month of Chait - March -April |
| Chaiti |
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Sung in the month of Chait; March - April - it is usually a slow song describing beauty. |
| Chaumasa |
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Sung in the four monsoon months- these are based mostly on the theme of separation |
| Hori |
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Songs celebrating the popular festival of colours, Holi |
| Kajri |
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Very popular songs sung during the monsoon months |
| Malhar
(Braji) |
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Sung during the monsoon season - they usually speak of Radha & Krishna |
| Rituraina
(Kumaoni) |
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They are sung as the spring season begins. |
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| Sung while working |
| Hudkiabaul (Kumaoni) |
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Sung while working as a group in a field. |
| Jantsar |
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Sung by women while they grind flour with a 'chakki'; grinding stone. |
| Ropni |
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Sung usually by women while they plant rice in the fields. |
| Sohni |
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Describing the sorrow of a woman - vis-à-vis her husband's home. |
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| Wedding
related songs
|
| Wedding Songs |
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A special wedding collection from ghodi to vidai. |
| Banna |
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Sung
during the wedding of a boy |
| Banni |
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Sung during the wedding of a girl |
| Bidai |
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Sung at the time of bride's departure after the wedding |
| Gari |
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A taunt for the 'samadhi' or 'in-law', traditionally sung as part of a wedding. |
| Ghodi |
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Sung
at the time the groom climbs the horse to go to the
bride's house. |
| Haldi |
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Songs
sung during the 'Haldi' ceremony at a wedding. |
| Kohbar
(Bhojpuri) |
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Songs
sung when the newly married couple reaches the Kohbar,
the wedding suite. |
| Latka-Nakta
(Awadhi) |
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Usully
sung during weddings but without any clear cut or specific
content. |
| Mamera / Bhaat |
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Sung during the Mamera/Bhaat ceremony. |
| Mandap |
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Sung while the "mandap" where the wedding takes place is created. |
| Mehndi |
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Sung while the important ceremony of applying henna takes place. |
| Sohag |
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Sung
at the time the bride seeks the blessing of elders for
a happy married life. |
| Tilak |
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Sung just before the departure of the groom for the
wedding, while the 'Tilak' is performed. |
| Tona |
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Protecting the bride or the groom from any evil eye.
|
| Phaag
(Rajasthani) |
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Sung
during weddings in some areas of Rajasthan. |
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