Kavishari
| Kavishari | |
|---|---|
| Native name | ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ / کویشری |
| Cultural origins | Punjab |
| Subgenres | |
| |
| Other topics | |
| Music of Punjab | |
 2026 in kavishari | |
| Part of a series on |
| Punjabis |
|---|
|
File:Punjab map (topographic) with cities.png Punjab portal |
_with_cities.png){kind=link}
Kavishari or kavishri (Punjabi: ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ (Gurmukhi) / کویشری (Shahmukhi)) is a style of Punjabi folk music entailing energetic and dynamic a cappella singing.[1] It was originated in the Malwa region of Punjab as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry).[1][2]
A performer or writer of kavishari is known as a kavishar.[3] In this style, kavita (poetry) is sung faster in a loud, yet stretched voice without any musical instruments.[4][5]
Kavishari is usually performed in melas, weddings, diwaans (religious functions), harvest celebrations (i.e. Visakhi), mehfils, etc.[6][7][8]
History
[edit | edit source]Kavishari was started in the Malwa region of Punjab by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry).[1][2]
There was a need of a particular singing style or genre that could energize the Sikh soldiers. So the Kavishari was mostly sung about bravery, known as Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras' ('flavour'/'subgenre') of the genre.[1]
The term kavishar is made of two words: kavi means 'singer', and shayar means 'writer' or 'poet'. As such, "kavishar" means 'person who writes and sings (poetry)'.
Characteristics
[edit | edit source]Kavishari is based on vocal and wording/lyrics. Singing style is its voice, chhand is its body, and the ras ('flavour'/'subgenre') is its soul.[9] Many kind of chhands are used in kavishari. A noted kavishar of Punjab, Babu Rajab Ali, used some rare Chhands like Manohar Bhavani Chhand[10] and gave some new chhands like Bahattar Kala Chhand to kavishari as well as Punjabi literature.[11]
There are nine accepted Rasas (subgenres) of kavishari, out of which the most commonly known four are:
- Veer Ras (Heroic)
- Shant Ras (soulful or peaceful)
- Vairag Ras (mystic)
- Haas Ras (comic)
It was the Veer Ras that is most commonly sung today and specially for the need of which the genre was created.
Notable kavishars
[edit | edit source]Below are notable kavishars.
Malwa's kavishars include:
- Babu Rajab Ali[2]
- Karnail Singh Paras
- Bhai Maghi Singh Gill (Gill khurd, Bathinda)
- Bhai Bhagwan Singh (Mehraj Wale)
- Gurdev Singh Sahoke
- Kishor Chand (Baddowali)
- Sukhwinder Singh Sutantar (Pakka Kalan)
- Kavishar Harnam Singh (freedom fighter from Ghanauli, Ropar District)
- Bapu Bali Singh Gadiwind — known to be the father of the kavishari of Majha[9]
- Gurdial Singh
- P. Mohan Singh
- Jarnail Singh Sabhra
- Jagir Singh Mast — formed the original Jagowala jatha along with Nirmal Singh Chohla, Jarnail Singh, and Sulakhan Singh.
- Joga Singh Jogi[12] — one of the notable kavishars of Majha[9]
- Gurmukh Singh Johal
- Dalbir Singh Gill
See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).