Categories: Culture

Varanasi’s singer boatman mesmerises people while ferrying them across the Ganga!

<p>
<strong>Boating in the Ganga in the midst of Varanasi’s divine ambience is an experience in itself and add to that listening to mesmerising songs by a boatman and the whole affair becomes magical. This is what Bhumi Nishad, the boatman who ferries people in the ghats of Ganga does.</strong></p>
<p>
What sets him apart from the other boatman is not just his melodious singing but the fact that he renders Hindustani classical music which have complicated notes and his repertoire includes Kajris, Thumris and of course bhajans.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p dir="ltr" lang="hi">
पिया पिया पिया…मोरा जिया ले गयो रे<br />
काशी में गंगा की लहरों के बीच सुनिए भूमि निषाद की ठुमरी.<a href="https://twitter.com/saurabhtop?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@saurabhtop</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Banaras?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Banaras</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BanarasGhat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BanarasGhat</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Varanasi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Varanasi</a> <a href="https://t.co/EyF2mj707a">pic.twitter.com/EyF2mj707a</a></p>
— The Lallantop (@TheLallantop) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheLallantop/status/1508821403797438466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>
A resident of Nishad Ghat, his singing starts right from the dawn when he gets up. As he walks down to the Ganga, he sings along the path.</p>
<p>
Talking to lifebeyondnumbers.com, he said: “Every morning I wake up and sing my way to the tea shop. All the people, whether Hindu or Muslim would wake to my songs, and then I would reach the Ganges to whom I pray. People come from faraway places to hear me sing.”</p>
<p>
 </p>
<p>
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3k-PJ3I7OIQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>
<p>
The listeners after enjoying his songs are further surprised when he reveals to them that he had never formally and traditionally learnt singing. “I have not learned music. I pick from here and there and I don’t know how I have picked Thumris or Kajris. It all comes from the Ganga. It is she who inspires me.”</p>
<p>
Never tempted to become a professional artist even though it may be remunerative, Bhumi Nishad is happy with what he does and what he earns. “Everyone needs money for a living, even I do. But I don’t aim for too much. I am happy with a simple life.”</p>
<p>
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.indianarrative.com/culture-news/young-yushika-baid-makes-a-fine-debut-on-stage-making-bharatnatyam-guru-geeta-chandran-proud-160298.html">Young Yushika Baid makes a fine debut on stage making Bharatnatyam Guru Geeta Chandran proud</a></strong></p>

IN Bureau

Recent Posts

UKPNP Slams Pakistan’s Unconstitutional Presidential Order in PoJK

Jamil Maqsood, the President of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the United Kashmir People's National…

1 hour ago

Meeting of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement committee concludes in Delhi

The 6th meeting of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) Joint Committee concluded in…

2 hours ago

US adds 29 Chinese firms to Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act Entity list

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), on behalf of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task…

2 hours ago

Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile calls for UK’s action on China’s Abuses

A delegation from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile (TPiE), led by Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel and accompanied…

3 hours ago

Indian Dornier 228 aircraft flypast on the sidelines of India-CARICOM Summit

On the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit, leaders of the member countries witnessed a…

3 hours ago

India spent $14 tn on investments since Independence, more than half of it spent in last 10 yrs: Report

India's economic growth story has witnessed a remarkable surge in investment spending, with over half…

4 hours ago