A Journey Through Folk Traditions: Recording Karnataka’s Rich Cultural Heritage for Wikimedia Commons

Our journey to capture the essence of Karnataka’s diverse and vibrant folk traditions for Wikimedia Commons began on November 7th, when I Santhosh Notagar, along with Hariprasad Shetty & Reema Jalihal, set off to Badami, a historical town in North Karnataka. Our mission was simple yet significant: to record various folk songs and performances that reflect the region’s unique cultural fabric and to contribute to Wikimedia Commons, making these valuable traditions accessible for future generations.

A Day of Folk Music and Dance

Our first stop was an agricultural field where we had invited different groups of folk artists. By 10 a.m., various teams had gathered, ready to showcase their traditional music and performances. We began with the Sobana songs, a type of traditional song sung during joyful occasions like weddings, the birth of a child, pregnancies, and naming ceremonies. Ms. Gouramma Sulladh, one of the performers, shared that she had been singing these songs for the past 25 years, having learned them from her mother and grandmother. These songs range in duration from five minutes to over an hour, and we were fortunate to record six of them for our collection.

Next, we asked Ms. Yellamma Ronadh and her group to perform Janapada songs, which are commonly sung during village functions, primarily for entertainment. These songs are integral to village life, often performed during family gatherings to pass the time.

The third group we recorded was Ms. Akkamma Holadumata and her team, who specialize in Bisukallu songs. The Bisukallu is a traditional stone tool used to grind nuts, and as the women worked on it, they would sing these songs to make the chore more enjoyable. This was a beautiful moment for our team, as we not only recorded their songs but also observed the traditional method of grinding nuts, which is still in use in many villages today.

Next, we captured Bhakthi songs from Ms. Mallamma Thalavar and her group. These devotional songs are sung during religious festivals, temple visits, and family functions, and are believed to bring good fortune to the family. Ms. Mallamma and her team astonished us by sharing that they knew over 100 different Bhakthi songs, although we only had time to record six of them.

Finally, we recorded Doggaya dance with Mr. Mylarappa and his group. This lively folk dance, performed during village festivals, is a celebration of life, good fortune, and community. The performers wore elaborate costumes and engaged in dynamic singing and dancing. We recorded two videos of this energetic performance.

Overcoming Challenges

While the day was incredibly rewarding, it wasn’t without its challenges. One notable difficulty arose when the wind began to blow, making it difficult to record video. The cover we had set up for shade in the field would fly off and create noise during recording, disrupting the flow of the performances. We had to stop recording multiple times and restart once the wind settled. This was a small but persistent challenge that required patience and quick thinking to adapt to the circumstances.

Additionally, many of the artists we worked with were not familiar with technology or camera equipment, making them hesitant to perform in front of a video camera. We spent a considerable amount of time reassuring and encouraging them, which made the experience even more fulfilling. During some of the performances, conversations between artists took place in between songs, which we had to cut out during editing. Some songs were also longer than 10 minutes, so we had to split them into multiple parts to ensure smooth uploads to Wikimedia Commons.

Managing the recording process was another challenge. We didn’t have access to professional equipment, so we had to rely on hand signals to indicate when to start and stop the recording, ensuring we didn’t disrupt the natural flow of the songs.

Despite these minor obstacles, the experience was incredibly fruitful. We were able to record nearly 30 videos, each offering a unique glimpse into the region’s rich folk traditions. The artists’ passion and willingness to share their culture were deeply inspiring, and we left the field feeling proud and fulfilled.

A Glimpse into Lamani Culture

After our time in Badami, we headed to Lamani Thanda in Hubli, a colony where only Lamani people reside. The Lamani community has its own distinct language, customs, and traditional attire, which sets them apart from the other communities in the region. Their traditional songs, sung during various occasions, are an important part of their cultural identity.

We were able to record five videos of Lamani songs, adding another layer to our growing collection of Karnataka’s diverse folk traditions.

A Journey Worth Taking

Reflecting on this journey, we are filled with gratitude and a sense of accomplishment. We travelled over 500 kilometres from Mangalore, but every mile was worth it to witness the beauty of Karnataka’s folk traditions and document them for posterity. Throughout this project, Ms. Amrit Sufi provided invaluable support, mentoring our team and ensuring we had everything we needed to succeed.

This project not only deepened our understanding of Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage but also ignited a passion for further documentation and preservation of these traditions. We are excited to continue our efforts to record and share more of Karnataka’s folk music and dance in the future, contributing to the larger mission of preserving cultural heritage for generations to come.