Artistes perform at the Regional Folk and Light Music Festival-2012 at Jayadev Bhavan in Bhubaneswar. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 25: The Regional Folk and Light Music Festival organised by All India Radio (AIR) Cuttack under the aegis of AIR, Delhi, was held at Jayadev Bhavan on Monday.

Well-known artistes from various regions of the country gathered to perform different types of folk music.

Veteran vocalist Shyamamani Devi gave a memorable rendition of folk songs. Her performance ranged from Odissi classical, chhanda traditional compositions to palli or folk songs of Odisha. She also performed a few light musical songs.

One of the senior-most artistes of AIR, Shyamamani Devi’s renditions won applause from the city audience.

“She is one of the most eminent names in music we have in Odisha and we are lucky to get opportunities like these to hear her perform a range of musical genres from Odissi to folk to ghazals,” said Nitish Rath, an audience member.

The listeners also enjoyed the Baul folk songs of Bengal. Haradhan Das Baul of Akashvani, Calcutta, presented some of his compositions that have been popular in his albums such as Charo charo.

Haradhan, who was wearing a turban and was dressed like a saint, touched hearts of the music lovers of the capital with his sonorous voice. The artiste brought to life the age-old musical tradition of the neighbouring state. The songs were a blend of emotional and spiritual intensity.

This was followed by another form of folk music associated with devotion. Another AIR artiste Usha Bai Barle from Chhattisgarh performed the Pandavani form of folk songs and rendered episodes from the Mahabharat that spoke of adventures of the Pandavs.

A group of musicians accompanied her and the artistes together put up an interesting folk act

The music was foot tapping and vibrant. “The festival is being conducted throughout the country to popularise folk and regional music among the public,” said Sudha Mishra, director of AIR, Cuttack.