Nagpur Strikes a Cultural Chord: Inaugural Khanjiri Bhajan Contest Draws Massive Folk Turnout
Nagpur hosts the inaugural Khanjiri Bhajan contest from July 15–18, featuring 283 folk music groups from Vidarbha and beyond, reviving Maharashtra’s spiritual musical heritage with a ₹1 lakh prize.
NewsSutra
In a historic celebration of Maharashtra’s rich folk traditions, Nagpur played host to the first-ever Khanjiri Bhajan contest from July 15 to 18, transforming the Vidarbha region into a vibrant epicenter of cultural revival. The four-day event featured an overwhelming 283 folk music groups from across the state, converging to celebrate the devotional and rhythmic art form of Khanjiri Bhajans—a genre deeply rooted in rural spirituality and performance.
The competition not only rekindled interest in local traditions but also offered a substantial cash prize of ₹1 lakh to the winning team, drawing widespread attention from artists, cultural historians, and policymakers. It marked a pivotal step in preserving Maharashtra’s intangible cultural heritage while spotlighting Vidarbha as a nurturing ground for grassroots arts.
What Is Khanjiri Bhajan? A Cultural Soulbeat
Khanjiri is a traditional handheld frame drum, commonly used in devotional singing circles across rural India, especially in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh. Often played in bhajan mandals (devotional music groups), it provides the rhythmic backbone to songs sung in praise of Hindu deities like Vitthal, Ram, and Krishna.
The Khanjiri Bhajan style is particularly cherished in Vidarbha for its intense community participation, spiritually uplifting lyrics, and energetic call-and-response singing, often performed through the night in village courtyards and temple festivals. Despite its cultural significance, this art form had long remained underrepresented in mainstream platforms—until now.
The Nagpur event, organized with the support of local cultural organizations and government bodies, is being hailed as a landmark attempt to mainstream a marginalised art form and pass it on to younger generations.
Overwhelming Participation and Passion
The contest, held at the Yashwant Stadium in central Nagpur, witnessed over 283 Khanjiri Bhajan groups from rural Vidarbha, Marathwada, and parts of Madhya Pradesh. Each group performed in front of a live audience and a panel of folk music scholars, spiritual leaders, and artists.
With participation ranging from teenagers to septuagenarians, the event highlighted how the Khanjiri transcends age and caste—unifying communities through shared devotion and artistry. Groups arrived wearing traditional attire, carrying handmade instruments, and bringing with them centuries-old oral traditions passed down through generations.
“This contest isn’t just about prize money. It’s about reclaiming our voice,” said Bhaskar Shende, a 62-year-old Khanjiri player from Akola, whose team has performed for over three decades at local yatra saptahs (pilgrimage festivals).
Prize and Recognition: ₹1 Lakh and More
The ₹1 lakh top prize became a symbolic acknowledgment of the efforts and discipline embedded in this traditional practice. The runner-up teams received ₹50,000 and ₹25,000, respectively, along with commemorative plaques and citations.
According to Lokmat News, the winning team from Chandrapur district was praised for their melodic precision, lyrical clarity, and spiritual depth, earning a standing ovation on the final day.
In addition to cash awards, performers were offered recording contracts, YouTube channel partnerships, and invitations to participate in state-level cultural events, further bridging the gap between folk arts and digital platforms.
Government and Community Backing
The initiative was launched under the aegis of the Vidarbha Cultural Revival Mission, a collaborative effort between the Maharashtra Ministry of Culture, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, and grassroots cultural groups like the Lokkalakar Mandal.
Speaking at the event, Maharashtra's Culture Minister said, “Reviving folk art like Khanjiri Bhajan is not just about nostalgia—it’s a necessary antidote to cultural erosion. We're committed to funding annual editions of the contest and expanding it across districts.”
Additionally, the Directorate of Cultural Affairs has confirmed plans to integrate Khanjiri Bhajan into school-level performing arts syllabi, to ensure sustainable transmission of these traditions.
For more information on cultural preservation efforts in Maharashtra, visit Maharashtra's Cultural Department official page.
Folk Music in the Age of AI and Streaming
The success of the Khanjiri Bhajan contest also raises larger questions about the role of traditional music in today’s digital landscape. As music becomes increasingly algorithm-driven, regional genres often face extinction without proper archiving and public support.
Experts from Sahapedia, a platform dedicated to Indian heritage, argue that initiatives like the Nagpur contest provide critical public engagement that online platforms cannot replicate. They emphasize the importance of “live, collective musical experiences” in retaining the social function of music—especially in rural India.
By televising and live-streaming parts of the competition, the organizers managed to merge oral traditions with digital outreach, opening up possibilities for Khanjiri Bhajan to find a new digital audience, while preserving its spiritual core.
Socio-Cultural Impact in Vidarbha
While Vidarbha is often discussed in the context of agrarian distress and underdevelopment, the Khanjiri Bhajan contest paints a different picture—one of resilience, artistic vibrancy, and community strength. The festival fostered a sense of regional pride, bringing together farmers, artisans, students, and retirees under the shared banner of music.
Several local NGOs, including Vidarbha Kala Sangh, have now proposed using Khanjiri Bhajan performances in mental health outreach, rural education, and addiction recovery programs, capitalizing on the therapeutic and communal aspects of the art.
This approach is supported by recent findings from the India Foundation for the Arts, which highlight the role of traditional performance in community healing and emotional well-being.
The Road Ahead: Annual Tradition in the Making
Given the overwhelming response, the Nagpur Khanjiri Bhajan contest is expected to become an annual feature, rotating among different districts to promote inclusivity and regional participation. Plans are underway to establish a Khanjiri Music Archive, where performances from various years will be catalogued and made available online for researchers, enthusiasts, and students.
Workshops, masterclasses, and inter-generational training programs are also on the horizon, to ensure that this art does not fade away with time. Discussions are ongoing with the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya to initiate formal certification programs in Khanjiri Bhajan as a recognized folk art.
Final Thoughts
In a world racing toward the future, the Nagpur Khanjiri Bhajan contest is a poignant reminder of the power of tradition. More than a musical event, it has become a beacon for cultural resilience, a platform for unheard voices, and a bold act of community storytelling.
As folk artists took center stage and thousands listened to the thunderous beat of the Khanjiri reverberating through Yashwant Stadium, it became clear: cultural identity is not just about remembering the past—it’s about reclaiming the present.
