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During a few days' stay at Amanat Fakir's place in February 2018, we became unplanned witnesses to an informal session of these wedding (and ceremonial) songs. These songs are an old regional tradition. Though performed now in Islamic contexts, the songs often invoke Vaishnava/Hindu imagery. Given the recent surge of interest in folk music in Bengal, Amanat-da and his Fakiri singing partner Rufiya-di have been encouraging the women of their village Chowa to perform and showcase this tradition to a wider audience.

Rufiya Bibi, Kasera Bibi, Nur Jahan Bibi, Ulema Bewa, Jorina Bibi, Najera Bibi - vocals and dance / Amanat Fakir - dotara / Mofijul (Sadhon) - dhol / Rufiya Bibi, Soumik - shaker

Sabitri - camera / Soumik - texts, translations and subtitles