Root Folkways-International Folk Heritage Festival

04:00 pm to 6:00 pm (Mela/ Fair)
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm (Concert – Main Stage) 

India is known for her cultural diversity!

When it comes to music it is even more enriching to see so many genres, forms. One of the most beautiful and truly ancient yet young is the folk music of India.

A genre that comes under living tradition, across the country in almost all the states, there are folk traditions that have survived through centuries. Despite all the historical changes, climatic challenges, political upheavals and what not... they continued to live in the memory, in the hearts of the people.

In fact, the folk music of the people was something that gave them their unique identity and depending on the need of the hour, gave joy, solace, stability, nostalgia... the list is almost unending.

Rites of passage, festivals celebrated in different parts of the year, harvesting, and all stages of harvesting, village fairs, weddings, the birth of a child, entertaining the guests, simple household chores like grinding, to even death; there was a song, for each occasion. There were songs appreciating the grandeur of nature, boatman songs, rain songs, songs dedicated to the animals, insects ... There are specific instruments for specific regions. Specific folk epics to each region. From north to south, to east to west, the sheer variety of this genre is simply amazing.

While India is exceptionally rich with so many living traditions, there are many other countries too which have a rich heritage of their folk music.

Though not all of it may be “living tradition” in the sense, it may not have traveled down centuries, in an uninterrupted flow, ORALLY TRANSMITTED; yet, it is part of the folk repertoire and in some cases, the revival of the folk repertoire.

With our new festival Root Folkways, Banyan Tree is setting out on yet another path-breaking journey. This festival will showcase richest of folk performing arts not just from across the length and breadth of the country but from around the world.

And, even more, the interesting part will be unique collaborations between folk artists from different countries.

An ode to the free spirit of mankind that connects to nature instantly and celebrates the smallest of happiness with full enthusiasm.

One of the highlights of Root Folkways will also be its pre-event activities. These will consist of a Mela that has food, shopping and some street folk performances that will entertain with its enchanting music, the brilliance of colour, vibrant energy, and abundant joy.

All in all, there will be folk music, dance, songs, mela and much more for the audience of all age groups.

ARTISTS: 

• Day 1 - 17th November & Day 2 - 18th November
• Dollu Kunitha (Karnataka)
• Gopi Khyapa Baul & Group (West Bengal)
• Lions of Africa (Senegal)
• Uuthai Olena (Siberia)
• Theyyam (Kerala)
• Tappetu Gullu (Andra Pradesh)
• Jambili Folk Rock Band (Assam)
• And Many More forms of India

Pre- Event  Area  Performances

• Telangana Folk Forms
• Telugu Puppetry
• Tera Talli from Rajasthan 
• Pottery & Much More