GSRI 2024 Intern
About Baani Kaur Luthra
Baani, 17, is a rising senior in high school from the Houston area, and she has been passionate about learning Gurmat Sangeet since her mother introduced it to her as a child. She has practiced vocals for the majority of her education in Sangeet, but she is more recently interested in practicing dilruba and other tanti saaz. She is excited and grateful for this opportunity to expand her knowledge in an art she is passionate about.
About my project
The Folk Roots of Raag Wadhans
This paper examines Raag Wadhans and its bani in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Raag Wadhans is a folk-based raag with many similarities to other Indian classical raags. In this paper, a structural overview of the raag is provided, as well as an analysis that compares Raag Wadhans with structurally similar raags. The bani of the raag in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is included, with an insight on the contributors to this raag. Finally, some analysis and interpretation of the bani of Raag Wadhans—specifically alahania, ghoria, and Wadhans Ki Vaar—in a cultural context is provided as an attempt to elucidate the nature of the raag as well as the message that the bani is conveying.