In the land of music and dance, the bulky dhol has shifted location-from robust male to dainty female shoulders. At least, in one corner of the Golden City. But dressed in colourful salwar suitsand traditional jewellery a dozen-odd girls are playing a range of unfamiliar, and often unheard of, folk musical instruemnts and sweeping the audience off their feet. They are different, not because of their dazzling performance, nimble fingers and versatility. But also because they are busy shattering stereotypes.
The students of the BBK DAV College, they can play 45 folk musical instruments with enthusiasm and expertise. The brain behind this initiative is Ritu Sharma, head of the department of music, who has been researching musical instruments intensely for long. Driven by her passion for instruments that have become extinct, Sharma has been on the hunt-from old folk numbers to the traditional shankh- for a while and built up a noteworthy collection.
"The main challenge for me was that I was teaching in a girl's college and the instruments that I wanted the girls to play were mainly played by men," she says. Gradually, however, her students started taking interest. "I would motivate them by saying, 'If women can compete with men in every field then why not in folk instruments," laughs Sharma.
Ritu Sharma
What bothered Sharma was the fact that traditional musical instruments were no longer used and that museums were the only place where they could be spotted. "Youngsters prefer modern musical instruments, such as the guitar, but I am sure our girl band will revive the age-old instruments," she says. "The band is already generating a lot of interest among the youth in Amrtisar. The range of instruments they play and the skill with which they do so are really unique." Sharma is convinced that the all-girl band will spark interest among in traditional folk music not just in Punjab but across the country.
The journey of course has not been easy for Sharma. "Finding professionals who know how to play these instruments was a little difficult," she recalls. Things of course were not easy for the girls, too. After all, girls carrying dhol or playing the ektara is not a very common sight. "People used to get stunned and make fun of us initially," says Kaveri Sharma, who plays the flute for the band. "But we didn't bother and just carried on, focused on our work."
Folk song and dance have always had takers. But now is the turn of folk instruments. The band has already performed at various performances before the international audience as well. These dazzling beauties with their 70-odd musical instruments don't fail to impress anyone.
Ektara
It is an one string instrument. The playing style of this instrument is a simultaneous pluck and gong, matching the rhythm of the music. It is also known as a rusty tambourine sword!
Dhol
The use of dhol dates back to the 15th century.This is the most commonly used folk instrument in Punjab. Made of wood, this drum is played with two different types of wooden sticks. Apart from Punjabi music, it is also used in music of regions like Assam (Bihu dance), Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bengal (including Bangladesh), Goa (during the Shigmo orHoli festival) and in south India.
Sarangi
It literally means one hundred colours.Legend has it, that the instrument was created to praise the Creator and was brought back to the spiritual arena in the court of the sixth Sikh Guru, Guru Hargobind Singh. It is believed that Sarangi is closest to the human voice.
Chimta
It literally means tongs.The chimta consists of a long, flat folded piece of metal strip, often with seven pairs of small metal jingles.The rings are plucked in a downward motion to produce tinkling sound.
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