Kavishari


Kavishari or kavishri is a style of Punjabi folk music entailing energetic and dynamic a cappella singing. It was originated in the Malwa region of Punjab as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita.
A performer or writer of kavishari is known as a kavishar. In this style, kavita is sung faster in a loud, yet stretched voice without any musical instruments.
Kavishari is usually performed in melas, weddings, diwaans, harvest celebrations, mehfils, etc.

History

Kavishari was started in the Malwa region of Punjab by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita.
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, known as Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras' 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 '.

Characteristics

Kavishari is based on vocal and wording/lyrics. Singing style is its voice, chhand is its body, and the ras is its soul. Many kind of chhands are used in kavishari. A noted kavishar of Punjab, Babu Rajab Ali, used some rare Chhands like Manohar Bhavani Chhand and gave some new chhands like Bahattar Kala Chhand to kavishari as well as Punjabi literature.
There are nine accepted Rasas of kavishari, out of which the most commonly known four are:
  • Veer Ras
  • Shant Ras
  • Vairag Ras
  • Haas Ras
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's kavishars include:
Majha'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 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