Dhaka International Folk Fest

Bangladesh is a country that has profound ancestral music roots. Folk music occupies the lives of Bangladeshis almost more than any other genre of Bengali music. These songs consolidate simple words expressing songs with deeper meanings involving the creation, society, lifestyle, and human emotions. Folk songs are hugely influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, who reshaped Bengali literature. There are several other popular genres of folk music, such as Baul, Bhandari, Hason Raja, Sari, Dhamali, Lalon, Gazal, Kirtan, etc. For example, Bhatiali is a folk music genre in Bangladesh, the music of fishermen and boatmen. Then we have Bichhedi or the songs of separation. There is a broad spectrum of mystic songs composed by prominent writers like Hason Raja and Lalon Shah, which are very famous throughout the history. The spirituality of Bangladeshis is outpoured in Marfati and Murshidi songs.

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For the love of folk music in our hearts, the Dhaka International Folk Festival is celebrated each year with various iconic artists from around the world. The festival is organized by Sun foundation to revive folk music in the young generation and support local folk talents. They started their journey in 2013 with ‘Bauliana’, a TV reality show searching for gifted folk singers across the country. The show’s best musicians get to share the same stage of Asia’s most prominent folk music festival ‘Dhaka International FolkFest’ along with national and international folk legends. It is a celebration of sheer musical brilliance where myriads of folk artists from home and abroad perform on a single platform. Being the biggest folk music festival in Asia, it bestows us with 500 musicians and dancers from 17 countries.  

The last edition of DIFF brought a large number of famous and renowned artists from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Russia, and other countries to perform in Dhaka during the three-day festival. Among the notable ones Chandana Majumdar, Kajol Dewan from Bangladesh, Daler Mehndi from India, Junoon and Hina Nasrullah from Pakistan, and Sattuma from Russia performed together. Also, Rabbi and Shafikul from Bauliana, Malek Kawal, Fakir Shahabuddin, and Shah Alam Sarkar showcased our diverse folk music, which left the audience mesmerized. Unfortunately, the sixth edition of DIFF has been canceled due to the covid pandemic. For the next edition, please keep an eye on their website for schedule.  

Written by,

Boby Sarker

Information Collected