Rupinder (Rupi) spent her childhood and youth travelling and living in
Rupinder
Obrzędowe pieśni Indii Ritual songs of India
different parts of the culturally rich and diverse country of India. From an early age, music was a part of the family and her growing up years, which led her to take on music as a full time career. She has played a pivotal role in promoting various
Rupi brings to us the rich culture of India through the festivals of India.
ry little occasion, from the harvesting of crops, welcoming the spring or rain, to seeing the full moon, which lends itself to joyous celebrations splashed with colors, music, folk dances and songs. Even
forms of Indian culture – from music to dance, to art and crafts, all over the
Indians love celebrating eve-
the birthdays of divine beings are celebrated by connecting them with particular festivals. Rupi will take us through the journey of these
hill state of Uttarakhand.
festivals. Here are the festivals Rupi will sing about – each song is sung in a different Raga and holds a special significance in the festival.
fot. Sławomir Przerwa
Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that marks
Janmashtami, the birthday of Lord Krishna is celebrated
the end of the winter season and ushers in the
with great devotion and enthusiasm in India in the month
springtime. People dress in yellow to celebrate
of August or September during the rainy season. Hindus
the festival and pray to Sarasvati, the Goddess of
celebrate it by fasting and staying up until midnight, the
music and learning.
time when Krishna is believed to have been born.
Maha Shivratri, is an important festival of the Hin-
Ganesha Chaturthi is the Hindu festival celebrating the re-
dus celebrated in February to celebrate the birth of
birth of Lord Ganesha in September. Ganesha is widely wor-
Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva, the destroyer of all evil, is
shiped as the god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune
said to have performed the Tandava Nritya or the
and traditionally invoked at the beginning of any new venture
dance of creation, preservation and destruction.
as he is considered to be the remover of all obstacles.
Holi is an ancient Hindu festival celebrated in
Navratri (Nine nights) is the festival which celebrates the
March and it celebrates agriculture, good spring
Divine Goddess Durga and each of her nine manifestations
harvests and the fertile land. It is commonly known
for nine nights in the month of October. It symbolises the
as the festival of colours and the festival of love.
power in the female form and brings forth all the strengths of a woman. 27