The ‘baithak’, or an intimate setting in which musical performances took place, is slowly fading. The Amarrass Society for Performing Arts, in partnership with Village Square, is reviving this tradition by hosting a baithak of folk music and qawwali in the beautiful hills of Uttarakhand.
The trend of musicians playing for a small and exclusive audience has become a thing of the past as bigger concerts and venues take centrestage. But the intimacy of a “baithak” is being revived in the form of ‘Music Tours’, specifically curated for a group of 7-8 people.
The Amarrass Society for Performing Arts has launched curated music tours where cityfolk can enjoy an immersive experience of a destination, with music as a highlight. As visitors from around the world soak in the beautiful ambience of ‘Solitude by the River’, a traditional eco-resort in the beautiful Chanfi village in Uttarakhand, they can also indulge in local cuisine, while taking nature walks.
Music is the element that binds this tour. Here, visitors are treated to a baithak courtesy musician Sarvjeet Tamta and his bands Himali Mou and Rehmat-e-Nusrat during the two-day tour. The two performances by Rehmat-e-Nusrat promise a pure qawwali experience while the one by Himali Mou centres around “pahadi” folk songs about life in the mountains.
The instruments, harmonium and tabla for Rehmat-e-Nusrat, and the flute and “dafli” for Himali Mou, transcend the audience into a peaceful zone.
Set a few hours from Delhi, the tour is a must for any music lover, for a chance to interact close-up with musicians who have played concerts worldwide.
To stay updated about the Himalayan Baithak and other upcoming tours, one can visit the website musictours.in or DM Village Square and Amarrass Records on Instagram.
Novita Singh is the Associate Director, video at Village Square.
Thumbnail and video courtesy Amarrass Records.
