Bishnupur Gharana Musical Journey - A Retrospective Study Of The Intangible Heritage

Abstract

The Eastern Regional Center of Anthropological Survey of India has conducted a study on Bishnupur to document its cultural heritage. Bishnupur , a historical town , located in the district of Bankura, western West Bengal, lies in the south of the Dhaleshwari river . It has been the capital of the Hindu Mallabhum King, which has its long history ranging back since  8^th century AD. The Mallabhum dynesty was once the most important Hindu dynasty in Bengal. Historians suggest that ‘ Mallabhum’ had once been the cultural center of Eastern India. Among its cultural achievement , music had the highest applause. It has been observed that with the evolving trend, in the cases of presentation style of vocal music followed by string instrument practice especially sitar playing and presentation of raga-raginis of the musicians of present generation are quite different from that of the  ancestral musicians of this gharana, which are largely unknown to mankind due to lack of knowledge and publicity. Therefore , in order to find some answer to the inquisitiveness of the music lovers and researchers, there is a need to revitalize and reorganize the history of the musical practice of Bishnupur  gharana considering its immense importance as a cultural heritage. Musical forms act as repositories of cultural memory, holding stories, languages, and rituals in their melodies and rhythms. Folk songs pass down historical narratives, while religious chants preserve spiritual traditions. Music thus ensures the continuity of culture across generations.