In a world racing toward modern beats and digital sounds, लोकरागी Folk Band stands as a heartfelt reminder of our roots. Formed five years ago in Chhattisgarh, this collective of young artists, all between 15 and 30, brings together the sounds of the soil through traditional instruments like harmonium, tabla, dholak, banjo, bansuri, ghungroo, khanjiri and khartaal.

Their Abhivyakti performance, “लोकगाथा भरथरी” (Raja Bharthari ki Vairagya Gatha), retells the legendary story of King Bharthari of Ujjain, a ruler whose life moved from splendour to spiritual surrender. The narrative unfolds through lok sangeet and abhinay, blending music and theatre to portray moments of birth, love, loss and renunciation.

Drawing from Chhattisgarhi folk traditions such as sohar, nirgun, bhajan and vivah geet, the band brings alive the emotional spectrum of rasa, from shringaar (love) to virah (separation). Particularly moving are the dual strands of a mother’s pain at parting from her son and a wife’s longing for her husband.

Through this musical folklore, लोकरागी celebrates a timeless story and also urges today’s youth to reconnect with their roots to rediscover pride, depth and emotion in the traditions that shaped them.