This soul-stirring Haryanvi bhajan touches musical chord

The song has been viewed over 21,000 times on Youtube within three days of launch.

With over 21,000 views already within three days of launch, the Haryanvi bhajan — Ganga ji; The Divine Journey — on Youtube by a group of promising singers from Haryana have stirred the souls of music lovers in the state.

From left: Haryanavi folk artist Somvir Kathurwal, Somesh Jangra and Shyam Lal Sharma during the shooting of Haryanavi folk song “Ganga Ji”.(HT PHoto)

Haryanvis are given to singing bhajans but it is usually done in a boisterous manner, bordering on the aggressive.

‘Gangaji’ albeit a typical traditional composition, brings a whiff of fresh melody. It’s vocal rendition soaked with brilliant touches of ‘gayaki ang’ (balanced and soft vocal texture) sets the bhajan apart. The traditional instruments such as clarinet, sarangi, dholak, dafli and ghungroo are equally contributing to the soothing music.

Also, the rendition touches the heart because unlike this bhajan, the listeners of Haryanavi devotional songs often (probably invariably) considered such music as a show of physical might, in singing as well as in rhythms.

This bhajan on the other hand is soulful in its overall composition with subtle touches of raag Piloo.

Lead singers

The lead singers are a masters degree holder in music (vocal) from MDU. Rohtak, Somvir Kathurwal and a PhD scholar, pursuing his degree from KU, Kurukshetra, Shyam Lal Sharma.

The music composer for the bhajan is Somesh Jangra, who is also the bhajan producer and director of photography is Bunty B Gaur. The video has been directed by Kuldeep Rathi.

Drones have been used to shoot the video at several locations of the Ganga river.

The simple but stirring lyrics are by Pt Mange Ram. Rajesh has played sarangi, Om Prakash, clarinet and synthesizer and dafli (Dairu in Haryanvi) are by Jangra.