Dehradun: As part of its ongoing mission to promote India’s rich cultural heritage, SPIC MACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music and Culture Amongst Youth) organized captivating performance by the renowned Bastar Band at Doon Girls School, Dehradun today. The program provided students with a unique opportunity to experience the vibrant tribal music traditions of Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region.
Founded by Padma Shri awardee Anup Ranjan Pandey, the Bastar Band is a heritage performing arts collective of tribal artists from various communities, including the Muria, Dandami Maria, Dhurwa, Bhatra, Munda, and Halba tribes. The ensemble is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the traditional music and instruments of Bastar, many of which are on the verge of extinction. The band has mobilized over 10,000 artists from 52 village art groups and has performed across India and internationally.
The performances featured a repertoire of devotional songs, such as the ‘Donkey Pata’, traditionally sung to welcome deities. The artists utilized a diverse array of indigenous instruments, including the Madia Dhol, Tirduḍi, Akum, Todi, Toram, Mohir, and Dev Mohir, creating an immersive auditory experience that resonated deeply with the audience.
Reflecting on the spiritual essence of the performance, Anup Ranjan Pandey, Director of the Bastar Band, shared, “The Bastar Band is not just about music; it is a way of life for our people. In Bastar, every cultural expression begins with the invocation of the deity. Only after the divine presence is welcomed do other rituals and performances follow. Our artists seek blessings before and after each performance — it’s a sacred cycle that connects us to our roots and reminds us that all art is a form of worship.”
The group comprises seasoned artists from various tribal belts of Chhattisgarh, each carrying forward traditional art forms passed down through generations. Among them are Jugdhar Korram, Navel Korram, Panku Ram Sodi, Lakshmi Sodi, Budhram Sodi, Dulgo Sodi, Chhannu Tati, Aayta Nag, Sunita Salam, Sangeeta, Sukdev Dugga, and Dhaniram, all of whom bring their unique styles, instruments, and dance forms to the collective stage.
The audience enjoyed the precision and harmony created using instruments handcrafted by the tribal artists themselves made from local wood and fiber found in the forests of Bastar.
Sharing the experience, a student from Doon Girls School remarked, “It was mesmerizing to witness such authentic and powerful music. The rhythms and melodies transported us to the heart of Bastar’s forests.”
Earlier during the circuit, they performed at Mount Fort Academy, Purkul Youth Development Society, Unison World School, and All India Institute of Medical Sciences where their performance was met with widespread acclaim.
Tomorrow they will be performing at The Scholars Home Paonta Sahib and Himalayan Institute of Medical Sciences.
