Holi is popularly known and celebrated as the festival of colours. Like all Indian festivals the festival of Holi brings together fun and food. Importantly, Holi is also a symbol of burning the evils within and celebrating the triumph of righteousness.
Every Indian festival is an opportunity for the community to come together and for the individual to spend moments in self-reflection.
The symbolism of rituals becomes the tool that allows continuity in thought and action while allowing for change. Music is also such a ritual. Music of seasons, festivals and occasions is a tradition that connects us with our past in a beautiful way.
This Holi we present to you a playlist that is filled with colour and joy, by Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar the vocalist of Jaipur – Atrauli Gharana. She was one of those rare artists who voluntarily retired from the concert-stage the day she found her voice deteriorating due to old age.
She treasured the deeply touching note by Poet Rabindranath Tagore acclaiming her as the “Queen of Melody” (Surashree).
“I consider myself fortunate in securing a chance for listening to Kesarbai’s singing which is an artistic phenomenon of exquisite perfection… The magic of her voice with the mystery of its varied modulations has repeatedly proved its true significance not in any pedantic display of technical subtleties mechanically accurate, but in the revelation of the miracle of music only possible for a born genius”.
Rabindranath Tagore
We invite you to partake in the joy and colour of Kesarbai’s music.
Hope you enjoy!