But it was the old-timers who revelled in such songs of yore, for youngsters in the plains, born after large-scale migration from the hills began in the 90s, it was always the foot-tapping Bollywood numbers, rock and pop beats that had appeal. We are trying to do this through music.” The essence of Garhwali music can perhaps be best captured in bedu pako bara masa (the bedu fruit is found on trees throughout the year), a folk song synonymous with the music of the region which is, even today, a staple in weddings in the hill state. We want the youth to develop an interest in their language and culture.
They think only people from villages speak Garhwali. Negi says, “Pahadi youngsters don’t speak their language. So what is driving these young singers to choose a fast-disappearing language as the medium of music? It is a burning desire to connect the youth in Uttarakhand to their roots. The band represents a crop of millennial musicians from the hill state, who are opting to sing and compose songs in Garhwali. “The song is our original composition," says 27-year-old Saurabh Negi, guitarist for the six-member band called Bhairavas, at the end of the performance on Wednesday as the thunderous applause dies down. The song, mathu mathu hit chhori teri gagar chhal kendi, (walk slowly girl, water from your pot is spilling) is a soft melody in Garhwali, a language from Uttarakhand that is mostly confined to the rural belt as Hindi and English are becoming the preferred mode of communication in urban households. After a dose of Sufi songs, the band plays an unfamiliar piece and the 50-odd people at the upscale cafe in Gurgaon’s Cyber Hub are in for a surprise. Their stylish sunglasses, long hair and beards, and edgy attire suggest they are ready to sing some popular, groovy tunes. NEW DELHI: Strumming guitars and wearing dapper tees, some lean young boys saunter on stage.
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