Lesson 1/44 min
Folk songs by region
Which song belongs where
| Song | Region and identity |
|---|---|
| Gambhira | Song of the Rajshahi region, above all Chapainawabganj |
| Alkap | A branch of the pala-gan of the Rajshahi region |
| Bhawaiya | Song of the Rangpur region, sung mainly by bullock-cart drivers |
| Chotka | Song of the Rangpur region |
| Bhatiyali | River song of the Mymensingh and Sylhet region; song of fishermen and boatmen |
| Sari gan | Song of the low-lying bhati areas of Sylhet and Mymensingh; sung during boat races |
| Jari gan | Song of the Dhaka and Mymensingh region; the Persian word ‘jari’ means mourning; songs of the Karbala tragedy |
| Ghatu gan | Song of the haor region, now nearly extinct; sung as boats moored at ghat after ghat |
| Sampan song | Popular folk song of Chattogram; in Chattogram a boat was called a sampan |
| Pala gan | Its home is Mymensingh |
| Kirtan | Songs in praise of Radha and Krishna |
| Marsiya | Songs of the Shia community |
| Gazir gan | Songs sung for Gazi Pir |
| Tappa | A kind of song; the father of Bangla tappa is Nidhu Babu (Ramnidhi Gupta) |
Watch out: Gambhira began in Maldah, West Bengal; after 1947 Chapainawabganj became its main centre (Banglapedia). Read exam questions carefully: ‘origin’ and ‘present centre’ differ.
Well-known lines
- Bhawaiya: “Oki Gariyal Bhai”, “Kon Dyashe Jan Moishal Bandhure”
- Bhatiyali: “Mon Majhi Tor Boitha Ne Re, Ami Ar Baite Parlam Na”
Memory trick: Rangpur = Bhawaiya + Chotka. Rajshahi = Gambhira + Alkap. Boat race = Sari.
Check yourself
Which song is sung during boat races?
At a glance
- 1
Gambhira is a folk song of the Rajshahi region (Chapainawabganj); its origin is Maldah.
- 2
Bhawaiya and Chotka are songs of the Rangpur region; Bhawaiya belongs mainly to cart drivers.
- 3
Sari gan is sung during boat races.
- 4
‘Jari’ is a Persian word meaning mourning; Jari gan belongs to the Dhaka and Mymensingh region.
- 5
The father of Bangla tappa songs is Nidhu Babu (Ramnidhi Gupta).