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In Bengal's Rasui village, 75-year-old Khudiram Hajra keeps the dying tradition of 'bhorai' kirtan alive
long-reads

In Bengal's Rasui village, 75-year-old Khudiram Hajra keeps the dying tradition of 'bhorai' kirtan alive

In Vaishnavism, the sun is believed to be a manifestation of Krishna, and in the Bengali month of Kartik, the kirtan verses sung at dawn by kirtaniyas is known as 'bhorai', which is derived from term 'bhor', meaning dawn.

Lavani performers rely on odd jobs, aid from fellow artists to survive the lockdown in the absence of govt help
Lifestyle

Lavani performers rely on odd jobs, aid from fellow artists to survive the lockdown in the absence of govt help

Approximately 15,000 artists are exclusively dependent on lavani, which includes dancers, singers, music accompanists and technical staff. Their livelihoods are dependent solely on performances, rendering their earnings akin to daily wages.