Dhenkir Gaan - Songs of Peddle Husking - Documentaries

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Direction: Shubhasree Bhattacharyya & Sumantra Roy

Cinematography: Somak Bhattacharya Editing: Arunava Basu Roy Chaudhuri & Banamali Sarkar

Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Kolkata brings you a Documentary film on the Dhenkir gaan of Bengal. In Bengal, amongst many communities, exists a tradition of work songs. Dhenkir gaan is a genre of work songs related to paddy husking. These songs are similar to marriage songs as they come from the same point of origin. This intertwining of marriage and paddy husking comes from the practice of using rice after husking in the marriages. The very name of the songs comes from Narada or the Messenger of Gods who is referred to as Dhenki. He is called to witness the wedding ceremony and to deliver the marriage invitation to Devakula. The Dhenkir gaan is also traditionally sung during the festival of poush sankranti when pitha (rice cake) is made from rice. These songs are now disappearing as firstly, the younger generations are not keen in learning these songs and secondly, machinery has replaced most of the traditional work processes.

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