gorbhanga final - Banglanatak

To the Land of Musicorbhanga village in Nadia district is the home of the Fakirs– makers of soulful mellifluous music. The village hasGcome to symbolize a quiet celebration of peace and freeflowing music. While entering the village one is likely to hear thestrumming of dotara or the tinkle of mandira and the sweetmelodies sung by the Sufis of Bengal. Spend a day or two atGorbhanga to live the Baul experience.The Fakirs say “Do not look for God anywhere, look for Him in thehuman body. Only then you will get Him, feel Him and you will beable to know yourself too.” Marfati songs are sung in reverence tothe Murshid or the Guru who is the steersman taking the devoteeto the God.Apart from Lalan-Geeti and other songs of the famousAbbasuddin or Bijoy Sarkar, the Fakirs of Gorbhanga are themasters of Bangla Qawwali which is a genre of devotional musicalso found in North India and countries like Afghanistan,Pakistan, Iran etc. It is believed to have been created by Gaus-ul-Azam in Maizbhandari (Bangladesh) and a characteristic featureof Fakiri music in West Bengal. Be at Gorbhanga to enjoy thisvibrant music revived after decades of obsolescence.Crossing the national boundaries the singers from this village arenow creating ripples across the Europe and Asia. At the home frontthe resonance of their rhapsodies are reverberating both on screenand on stage.A resource centre has been built with support of banglanatak dotcom and the European Union. You may sit with the Bauls & Fakirsat the premises of the resource centre at Gorbhanga and get alesson or two on Sufi philosophy or strumming the Dotara orcollect the CDs and DVDs of their songs.How to reachOne can reach Krishnanagar by bus or train and then take a bus orhire a car and reach Nazirpur, 70 Kms North, on Karimpur road.On reaching Nazirpur where there is a road divide, one has to takethe left one and travel 4 Kms to reach Gorbhanga. There is also adirect bus to Nazirpur from Esplanade. By road the distance is 210Kms from Kolkata.Where to stayThe Fakirs are world famous hosts. They will make you feel athome with their warmth and affection. Staying at the residencesof Armaan, Golam, Akkas or Babu Fakir will be an experienceworth remembering. You may also stay at the resource centre. Thesingers take care of the centre as well as local tourism activities.PackageOvernight trip to Gorbhanga (by car)Tour chargesat GorbhangaTravel by Car(Kolkata-Gorbhanga-Kolkata)TotalSingle visitor 1000 3900 4900Group of 3 2700 3900 6600Group of 5 4000 3900 7900Tour charge at Gorbhanga includes a guided tour of the entirevillage, staying at Resource Centre or in any of the Fakir's house,listening to baul-fakiri songs, food including 2 breakfasts, 1lunch, 1 evening snack and 1 dinner and packaged drinking water.If time permits you may explore the famous pottery of Narayanpuror set out for Fulia, where the weavers weave dreams in cotton andsilk. Close to Murshidabad, Gorbhanga also offers the interestingoption of including Hazarduari Palace in your travel itinerary.Gorbhanga Fakiri UtsavGorbhanga Fakiri Utsav is actually the hotspot for the musiclovers. In recent times, the fair has attracted people not only fromBengal but from all over the world. Visit the land of music between13-15 January, 2012.Overnight stay at Gorbhanga, day trip toHazarduari in Murshidabad and backSingle visitor 1000 800 5500 7300Group of 3 3000 2400 5500 10900Group of 5Tour chargesat GorbhangaTour Chargesat HazarduariTravel by Car(Kolkata-Gorbhanga-Hazarduari-Kolkata)5000 4000 5500 14500Day trip to Hazarduari will also include a two-hour guided tour inHazarduari and other heritage sites, lunch and evening snack.Total

Unique opportunity to experience community artists led cultural tourism in rural Bengal.KolkataContact Persons:Gorbhanga, NadiaMahimoy Paul 91-9830620780Surajit Ray 91-9433130938Niloy Basu 91-9903043382Arman Fakir 91-9733956858Babu Fakir 91-9733948841Khaibar Fakir 91-9647190624Akkas Fakir 91-964719056158/114, Prince Anwar Shah Road, Kolkata 700045, West Bengal, IndiaPhone: 91-33-24178516, Telefax: 91-33-24178518, email: banglanatak@gmail.com,website: www.banglanatak.com