Kavishari or kavishri ( pa, ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ) is a style of

Punjabi folk music Punjabi, or Panjabi, most often refers to: * Something of, from, or related to Punjab, a region in India and Pakistan * Punjabi language * Punjabi people * Punjabi dialects and languages Punjabi may also refer to: * Punjabi (horse), a British ...

entailing energetic and dynamic a cappella singing. It was originated in the

Malwa region Malwa is a historical region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic upland north of the Vindhya Range. Politically and administratively, it is also syno ...

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising a ...

as a sung form of " Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry). A performer or writer of kavishari is known as a kavishar ( pa, ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰ). In this style, ''kavita'' (poetry) is sung faster in a loud, yet stretched voice without any musical instruments. Kavishari is usually performed in melas,

weddings A wedding is a ceremony where two people are united in marriage. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes. Most wedding ceremonies involve an exchange of marria ...

, diwaans (religious functions), harvest celebrations (i.e. Visakhi),

mehfil Mehfil (also spelled ''mahfil'') is a formal venue where indoor recreational activities such as poetry ( mushaira), singing, music, and dance are entertained in parts of the Indian subcontinent. It is part of Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb culture. His ...

s, etc.

History

Kavishari was started in the

by the 10th

Sikh Guru The Sikh gurus ( Punjabi: ਸਿੱਖ ਗੁਰੂ) are the spiritual masters of Sikhism, who established this religion over the course of about two and a half centuries, beginning in 1469. The year 1469 marks the birth of Guru Nanak, the found ...

, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, as a sung form of " Chhand-Baddh" ''kavita'' (poetry). 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 Courage (also called bravery or valor) is the choice and willingness to confront agony, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. Valor is courage or bravery, especially in battle. Physical courage is bravery in the face of physical pain, ...

, known as ''Veer Ras'', one of the nine Ras' ('flavour'/'subgenre') of the genre. 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

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. Many kind of ''chhands'' are used in kavishari. A noted kavishar of

Babu Rajab Ali Babu Rajab Ali ( pa, ਬਾਬੂ ਰਜਬ ਅਲੀ ; ; also known as Babu Ji) was a noted Kavishar of Punjab, known as the King of '' Kavishari''. Kavishar and kavishari Kavishari, or Kavishri, ( pa, ਕਵੀਸ਼ਰੀ) was originat ...

, used some rare ''Chhands'' like ''Manohar Bhavani Chhand'' and gave some new chhands like ''Bahattar Kala Chhand'' to kavishari as well as

Punjabi literature Punjabi literature, specifically literary works written in the Punjabi language, is characteristic of the historical Punjab region of India and Pakistan and the Punjabi diaspora. The Punjabi language is written in several scripts, of which the Sha ...

. 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

Below are notable kavishars.

Malwa Malwa is a historical region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic upland north of the Vindhya Range. Politically and administratively, it is also syn ...

's kavishars include: *

Karnail Singh Paras Karnail Singh Paras (28 June 1916 – 28 February 2009) was a Shiromani Kavishar award-winning Kavishar of Indian Punjab. He is the father of former union minister and Samajwadi Party politician Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and Canada based writer Iqb ...

* Bhai Maghi Singh Gill (Gill khurd,

Bathinda Bathinda is a city and municipal corporation in Punjab, India. The city is the administrative headquarters of Bathinda District. It is located in northwestern India in the Malwa Region, west of the capital city of Chandigarh and is the fifth l ...

) * Bhai Bhagwan Singh (Mehraj Wale) * Gurdev Singh Sahoke * Kishor Chand (

Baddowal Baddowal is a village in Batala in Gurdaspur district of Punjab State, India. The village is most of belong to Pawar caste small population there was a man who serve for Indian army for 26 years but after retirement torture by local area polic ...

i) * Sukhwinder Singh Sutantar (Pakka Kalan) * Kavishar Harnam Singh (freedom fighter from

Ghanauli Ghanauli Town is situated near Rupnagar in Rupnagar district in the state of Punjab in India. Location Ghanauli lies on the bank of river Sutlej near Rupnagar. The village is located on National Highway 205 (Earlier NH 21) section between Rup ...

Ropar District Rupnagar district is one of twenty-two districts in the state of Punjab, India. The city of Rupnagar is said to have been founded by a Raja called Rokeshar, who ruled during the 11th century and named it after his son Rup Sen. It is also the ...

)

Majha Majha (Punjabi: ਮਾਝਾ (Gurmukhi), (Shahmukhi); ''Mājhā'') is a region located in the central parts of the historical Punjab region split between India and Pakistan. It extends north from the right banks of the river Beas, and reaches ...

's kavishars include: * Bapu Bali Singh Gadiwind — known to be the father of the kavishari of Majha * Gurdial Singh * P. Mohan Singh * Jarnail Singh Sabhra *Jagir Singh Mast — formed the original Jagowala ''

jatha A Jatha ( Punjabi: ਜੱਥਾ g ਜਥੇ l) is an armed body of Sikhs. They have existed in Sikh tradition since the beginning of the Khalsa (Sikh community) in 1699 CE. A Jatha basically means a group of people. The Damdami Taksal Jatha ...

'' along with Nirmal Singh Chohla, Jarnail Singh, and Sulakhan Singh. *Joga Singh Jogi — one of the notable kavishars of Majha **Gurmukh Singh Johal **Dalbir Singh Gill

References

{{Reflist

External links

Download kavishari by various kavishars - www.dhadikavishr.com

Punjabi folk music Punjabi culture Punjabi music History of Sikhism Sikh music

History

Characteristics

Notable kavishars

See also

References

External links