Regional Classic Folks Music

Punjab

Punjabi music is the most famous music among all kinds of music that includes classical, Sufi, folk and various styles including the gharana of Patiala.

At the time of folk music in Punjab, various traditional instruments were used such as Chimta, Dhadd, Sarangi, Algoze, and Tumbi.  For various occasions or festivals, there were different range of songs including folk touch from the birth to death or many more ceremonies related to religion. [1]

Amateur Genres

Some forms of ritual songs: dhola, mahia, and tappa.

Professional Genres

Tumba-algoza Dhadi

Classical Music

Patiala Gharana

The most popular classical and Hindustani vocal music gharana is the Patiala gharana. This was originated by the Patiala Maharaja of Punjab that is also commonly popular for khyal, thumri, and ghazal.

Sham Chaurasia Gharana

For singing vocal duets, the most popular gharana known is of Sham Chaurasia gharana in the field of classical Hindustani music. The gharana of Sham Chaurasia is resided in the village of district Hoshiarpur, Punjab.

Devotional Music

Sufi Music

In the most of the genres, the music including poetry of Sufi is called Sufi music. The composition of some popular poets were also sung and their names are Shah Hussain, Mian Muhammad Bakhsh Qawwal, Baba Farid, Waris Shah, and Bulleh Shah.

Sikh Music - Shabad kirtan.

Hindu Music - Bhajan.

Bhangra

The origination of Bhangra starts from 1980 and it is rhythmic dance oriented music.  It is a type of Punjabi dance music with traditional and folk touch as referred by the name.  In Bhangra, the main force in on the rhythm that motivates to dance not on the lyrics and singer. This Bhangra music is very popular all over the world.

The Suhag And Vidai Songs

The songs on vidai and suhag were knotted.  As according to the tradition in marriage, various prospects were happened like farewell, separation, love, anticipation etc.  On the suhag gathering, various songs on vidai were sung.

The meaning of suhag is that the husband of a woman is alive and she is in state of married.  It is the most promising state of life of a woman with profusion and fruitfulness, love, emotion, and the state of being companion with the mate.

The vidai and suhag songs are the best way to represent the whole life time period. All the reflection of the life from childhood to adulthood, bonding with parents and siblings, bond with loved ones, anticipation and all the feelings were expressed through these vidai and suhag songs. All the feelings and thoughts that cannot be said through words are represented in the way of songs and poetry.  These songs represents a message to the woman that her one phase of life now comes to an end and a new phase of life now has to begin.  So through these suhag and vidai songs, all the changes of life were expressed and celebrated.  Some woman also sung these songs and expressed their feelings through it. The feeling and expression of the bride can be expressed through these songs by the group and they also felt their own days through these songs.

These suhag songs were started much before the days of marriage in the bride’s house engaging friends and family.  The starting of the song with the reminding the daughter of her duty and she also asked her father to find a perfect match for her through these songs. Through these songs, bride also mentioned the type of her life partner which she wants in her life and she also sing the song with a great shyness, eager bride, and tearful daughter.

Songs based on vidai were started at the time of Doli and after marriage rituals were finished.  It also represented the phase of completion of marriage ceremony. All the friends, relatives, and family members on the bride side got emotional on this occasion as the bride leaves the home now and starts her new phase of life with new hopes and dreams.