It’s their daily riyaaz . Young girls in white, sarods in tow, walk in single file to the home of their Guru, Harjinder Singh.
Today it is Bilawal, a morning raga, they are practising, the sun still some time away. It’s a magical moment. In Bhaini Sahib, the days are filled with music.
For the 1,500 families in the village, there are no short-cuts to a passion passed down many generations.
By tradition, at least one member of each family learns Hindustani classical music. Mellifluous notes of the dilruba, sitar and sarod soothe the ears even before the hour-and-a-half drive from Ludhiana winds up at the village.
But even on a freezing winter’s dawn, the villagers will politely tell you that nobody is permitted to speak without the approval of Satguru Uday Singh, who heads the Namdhari sect here. The permission takes a few hours coming.
“Music is meditation; so we start teaching the children at a young age and generally follow the time cycle of ragas. It is easy for them to soak in the rudiments of a raga. When they grow up, they get attached to music which leaves a lasting impact on their lives,” Harjinder Singh says.
The tradition of learning from maestros began with Satguru Jagjit Singh, who desired that every child in Bhaini Sahib should learn from maestros, a practice that has endured till date.
Gurpreet Singh, an athlete who has represented Punjab at the national level, does not miss a single day’s practice on his dilruba. Music has made him a better man, he says.
For the pizza-rolling Gurmukh Singh Namdhari or the shoe-shop owner Sham Singh Namdhari, music comes first. They pay obeisance to music and then open their shops.
Sarod in the sun At noon, the arena shifts to the park at the Gurdwara in the village. The warmth-infused languor dissipates with the lively music.
Perfecting the rhythm At dusk, tabla guru Rajesh Malviya guides young fingers on the hide at a community centre in the village.
The lark has competition Music, and life, begin in Bhaini Sahib at 4 a.m. every day when Harjinder Singh welcomes home his disciples for riyaaz. Ratna, Ratan, Sandip, Kawaljit and the other students would rather miss their meals than their daily practice even in bone-numbing winter.
Devoted to his craft Gurpreet Singh, an athlete who has represented Punjab at the national level, does not miss a single day’s practice on his dilruba.
Everyday rhythms: Gurmukh Singh Namdhari from the village deftly flips burgers and Sham Singh Namdhari sells shoes, but not after a session of lilting music.
Mehfil memories Homework put away with ease, Prabhjeet, Dharam, Rajni, Gursharan and Gyan return to music for an evening of practice.
Ragas unite souls Music dissolves divisions. Guru Harjinder Singh imparts training to children who do not belong to the Namdhari sect.
Sarod in the sun At noon, the arena shifts to the park at the Gurdwara in the village. The warmth-infused languor dissipates with the lively music.
Singh Namdhari from the village deftly flips burgers and Sham Singh Namdhari sells shoes, but not before a session of lilting music.
Crimson songs The mellow sun sets the backdrop for a session of strings that resonates in the village. Guru Harjinder Singh keeps his watchful eyes on his charges.