About Pahari Folk Songs

Folk Songs of Uttarakhand had its root in the lap of nature. It has seen various phases of growth and has undergone lots of transformation during the course of time. These songs are primarily sung on various occasions like ceremonies, festivals etc. It speaks about various festivals, religious traditions, folk stories and simple life of the people of Uttarakhand.
Shri Mohan Upreti, Shri Gopal Babu Goswami, Shri Narendra Singh Negi ji are the people who have not only worked for the improvisation of these songs but have also given an identity to the Folk Songs of Uttarakhand. Shri Mohan Upreti is a personality associated with Kumaoni Folk Music and is well known for his Nanda Devi Jagar & Rajula Malu Shahi Ballad. Shri Gopal Babu Goswami has great Kumaoni song "Bedu Pako Baro Masa" to his credit. Similarly Shri Narendra Singh Negi is considered to be the voice of Garhwal.
Other singers represnting Uttarakhand now days are Chander Singh Rahi, Fauji Lalit Mohan Joshi, Heera Singh Rana, Kalpana Chauhan, Meena Rana, Anuradha Nirala, Anil Bisht, Pritam Bharatwan and Gajendra Rana. Bajuband, Basanti, Chhopati, Chhura, Chounphula and Jhumeila, Jagars, Khuded, Mangal, Puja Folk Songs are some of the folk songs sung in various occasions in Uttarakhand. These songs are sung with musical instruments like dhol, damoun, turri, ransingha, dholki, daur, thali, bhankora and masakbhaja. Tabla and harmonium are also used, but to a lesser extent.