Cultural origins Punjab | ||
Typical instruments Usually without any instruments | ||
Kavishari or kavishri (Punjabi: ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ) is a style of Indian folk music entailing energetic and dynamic a cappella singing. It was originated in the Malwa region of Punjab as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry)
Contents
A performer or writer of kavishari is known as a kavishar (Punjabi: ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰ). Kavishari is usually performed in melas, weddings, diwaans (religious functions), harvest celebrations (i.e. Visakhi) and mehfils etc.
History
Kavishari was started/invented by the 10th Sikh Guru, "Guru Gobind Singh Sahib". There was a need of a particular singing style or genre that can gave energy to the war-fighters. So the Kavishari was mostly sung about Bravery, known as Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras' (English: "flavour"/"subgenre") of the genre.
Characteristics
Kavishar Word is Made of Two Words "Kavi+Shayar", Where Kavi Means Singer and Shayar Means Writer. So Kavishar Means Who Writes and Sing the Kavishari(Poetry). Kavishari is based on vocal and wording/lyrics. Singing style is its voice, Chhand is its body and the Ras (flavour) is its soul. Many kind of Chhands are used in kavishari. A noted kavishar of Punjab, Babu Rajab Ali, used some rare Chhands like Manohar Bhavani Chhand and gave some new Chhands like Bahattar Kala Chhand to kavishari as well as Punjabi literature.
There are nine accepted Ras as (subgenres) of kavishari, out of which the most commonly known four are:
It was the Veer Ras that is most commonly sung today and specially for the need of which the genre was created.
Notable kavishars
Notable kavishars includes:
Kavisher bhupinder singh buraj duns ☆ kavisher paramjit Singh anandpur sahib
Bapu Bali Singh is known to be the father of the kavishari of Majha and Joga Singh Jogi is one of notable kavishars of Majha.