Renowned Uttarakhand folk singer Narendra Singh Negi’s new audio CD ‘Nanda Dhyane Bidai’ was formally launched by noted mountaineer and Padma Shree recipient lovraj Singh Dharamshaktu in Dehradun at a simple function on Sunday.
The album released by Himalayan Films Pvt ltd consists of seven songs on the Nanda Devi Raj Jat- considered Asia’s longest and toughest pilgrimage. The numbers in this album are basically the folk songs sung by villagers for ages in the mountains of Garhwal.
Negi said, “I had a chance to experience the uniqueness of Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra in 2000. That year my album on Raj Jat was released. Music lovers were consistently asking me to sing new songs on the Raj Jat. Few months back I came across to the folk songs collection on Nanda Devi Raj Jat by cultural artiste and researcher Dr Nand Kishore Hatwal. That rich collection inspired me to take out this album,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion Dharamshaktu said, “I grew up listening to the songs of Gopal Babu Goswami and Narandra Singh Negi. I am honored to launch the new album of the singer I adore. Nanda Devi Raj Jat presents a mix of religious and adventure tourism. The challenge before us is to maintain its traditional essence and also prevent damage to the environment.”
In the album, the song ‘Jaan Kabilash’ portrays the preparation work of the Raj Jat whereas ‘Baithi Gaiyee Nanda’ depicts Nanda sitting in the palanquin to travel towards her husband’s home from her parental home. There are two songs on Ghosingh Devta of Sutol village. ‘Ratbyane Kee’ is a jagar traditionally sung in the morning while ‘Petan Baithigye’ is an emotional description of Nanda’s journey from her paternal home to her husband. The song ‘Chwodi Payanu’ which describes all the stoppages in the Raj Jat from Nauti village till Homkund and other selected places en route is another highlight of the album.
Hatwal said, "All the songs are based on Nanda Devi’s jagars (religious folk compositions) and effort has been made through the albums to pass on the cultural heritage to the younger generation. There is need for conservation and promotion of the folk songs and ballads of Uttarakhand’s Himalayan regions.
The State Government should come forward for the conservation of this heritage," he stressed.
The video of ‘Nanda Dhyane Bidai’ will be ready by mid-December. Mohan lakhera, Vipin Thapliyal, Govind Negi and Harish Bhatt were among those present at the album launch.