11-day Kajari festival begins in Mumbai

With an aim to connect the younger generation with the old folklores and singing tradition, a city-based organisation is conducting Kajari festival in Mumbai and its outskirts by roping in folk singers from Uttar Pradesh.
Abhiyan, a social and cultural organisation is organising this 11-day-long festival which began from August 11.
"It will be held at Dahisar, Mulund, Kandivili, Ghatkopar, Wadala, Dadar, Dombivili, Diva and Vasai Road," said Amarjeet Mishra, convener of the organisation.
Kajari is a genre of semi-classical singing, popular in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and often sung to describe the longing of a maiden for her lover.

Senior leaders of UP BJP including ministers in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, top singers from UP, where Kajari is very famous, along with noted personalities from film industry, entrepreneurs are taking part in this 11-day-long festival.
"Swati Singh, Minister of State for Women and Welfare, Family Welfare, Mahendra Singh, Minister of State (independent charge) of Rural Development in the UP government flew from Lucknow to Mumbai to take part in the festival.

"Besides, in-charge of Maharashtra BJP and party's general secretary (national) Saroj Pandey as well as UP BJP general secretary Vijay Bahadur Pathak are also slated to grace the occasion," said Mishra.

Describing the objective of organising the festival, Mishra said, "Our younger generation is not properly connected to our traditional way of singing and living. With this Kajari, we are trying to connect them to their roots."
He added, "Swati Singh was the chief guest in our festival organised at Bhandup, while Mahendra Singh graced the occasion at Kandivali and Diva. We are going to felicitate noted playback singer Sadhna Sargam for her outstanding contribution to the field of music."
The president of the Abhiyan Ram Sajeevan Dubey said this year the festival will highlight the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Paddhao' scheme launched by the Modi government to encourage birth and education of girls.

"With this reason we have been choosing common homemakers and honouring them on our platform to boost their morale," Dubey said.
During the closing part of the festival, a small play will be staged to dedicate this festival to daughters.