Biswasjit (Bonnie) Chakraborty

Apr 2006 | Biswasjit (Bonnie) Chakraborty, the lead vocalist of Oikyotaan at the Fireflies Festival. Bonnie was accompanied by Kartick Das Baul and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

I had not paid attention to Baul music before and had never witnessed it live, especially being sung with the kind of passion and energy that Bonnie and Kartick Das Baul brought to the performance. I was blown away into what felt like a trance and saw myself slowly transported to another world that was overflowing with unfiltered emotion, and it filled me with an urge to dance along and a need to lose myself to the music.

baul music begins
mesmerized and ecstatic
every muscle moves

Info

The music of the Bauls, Baul Sangeet, is a particular type of folk song. Its lyrics carry influences of the Hindu bhakti movements and the suphi, a form of Sufi song exemplified by the songs of Kabir. Their music represents a long heritage of preaching mysticism through songs in Bengal, as in the Shahebdhoni or Bolahadi sects. [Source: Wikipedia]

Info

Fireflies Festival of Sacred Music is an annual music festival held at the Fireflies Ashram off Kanakapura road, Bangalore. It was previously known as Bhoomi Jathre. Fourth annual event was held on April 8 and 9, 2006.