Holi Festival - Sounds of Spring
Sharing a few of my favorites classical songs among the thousands written about Holi.
Happy Holi to everyone celebrating it. It’s not yet spring here, so writing happy posts when it’s hailing outside has been a challenge. Fortunately, I’ve been listening to music from warmer times, and I wanted to share a few of my favorite songs about Holi from the recent past.
Let’s begin with Pt Kumar Gandharv’s Rang Na Daro Shyamji Holi pe in Raag Sohni (sometimes written as Soni / Sohani). The whos-who of Indian classical music has performed several versions, but this remains my favorite.
It’s said that the darker-skinned Krishna was scared to woo the fair-skinned Radha, and he complained to his mother, Yashoda. She then jokingly remarked to Krishna that he should paint Radha’s face any color he wants, to help him move along. Krishna took this advice literally and began the Holi tradition. Consequently, it’s a poetic obsession and has remained in the public imagination for at least as long as the festival has been alive.
Here’s another one from Smt. Shruti Sadolikar in Raag Patdeep which has been on repeat over the last quarter. “Holi Khelat Bahaar“.
Spring is traditionally a time for celebrations for most agrarian and equatorial cultures, as has been the case with India. Songs about the new harvest, fresh blooms, fruits, and lush meadows are plenty, and they are also described alongside the antics of Shyaam and Radha, rendered flawlessly in shringaar raagas, like Patdeep and Sohni and others in the genre.
The last song I’ll share is in Raag Kafi (mishra), which my first guru taught me. I’m unsure whose composition this is; please write back to me if you know. Here’s the oldest recording I could find of it.
by Pt Narayanrao Vyas, a student of Vishnu Digambar Paluskar - Aaj Khelo Shaam sang holi
Thanks for listening, and Happy Holi!!