Aabha Hanjura opens up about blending Kashmiri and Rajasthani folk traditions in O Ri Sakhi

Aabha Hanjura. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Kashmiri and Rajasthani folk traditions come together beautifully in Aabha Hanjura's O Ri Sakhi. The track is the singer and songwriter's first offering from Bridges, her new arts initiative that aims to marry India's diverse folk traditions, thus putting them in the spotlight.

According to Hanjura, India's regional musical traditions deserve far greater national attention. Blending them is one way of ensuring they both remain relevant. "Whether it's Assamese, Dogri, Ladakhi, Baul, Lavani, Bihu, or the incredible music from the Northeast, every region has a unique musical language. That's one of the reasons I started Bridges. I want to create conversations between traditions rather than keeping them in separate boxes," said the singer.

There is another motivation driving Hanjura's Bridges. For the artiste, it's also about changing how her home state is perceived. She explained, "For a long time, Kashmir has been reduced to a visual metaphor. Many narratives around it have been one-dimensional. But beyond the landscape lies an incredibly rich culture. As an artiste and a Kashmiri, my aim has always been to shine a light on perspectives that often get drowned out by the noise. Folk music is people's music. My songwriting draws from that rich folklore. If my music can make someone curious enough to discover Kashmir beyond the headlines, then I feel I have done my job."