📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rodrick rajive lal
Entertainment
Efforts Launched to Preserve Kangra’s Endangered Folk Songs
✍️ The Tribune
🗓 31 Oct 2026, 07:12 AM
👁 11
Cultural activists and local authorities in Himachal Pradesh have begun a project to record and promote the fading folk songs of the Kangra region.
Kangra, a district in Himachal Pradesh known for its rich musical heritage, is witnessing a concerted effort to safeguard its traditional songs that are at risk of disappearing. A coalition of local musicians, cultural NGOs and the state’s Department of Art and Culture has initiated a recording drive to capture the melodies and lyrics of these folk pieces before they fade from collective memory.
The initiative involves field visits to remote villages where elder singers still perform age‑old ballads during festivals and community gatherings. High‑quality audio equipment is being used to archive the performances, and the recordings will be made accessible through a digital portal managed by the department. In addition, workshops are planned to teach younger generations the nuances of the Kangra style, ensuring continuity.
Organizers say the project also aims to raise public awareness by organizing live concerts and collaborating with schools to include the songs in cultural curricula. Funding for the venture comes from the state’s heritage preservation budget and contributions from private donors who recognize the cultural value of these endangered art forms.
If successful, the program could serve as a model for other regions in India facing similar threats to their intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of proactive documentation and community involvement.
The initiative involves field visits to remote villages where elder singers still perform age‑old ballads during festivals and community gatherings. High‑quality audio equipment is being used to archive the performances, and the recordings will be made accessible through a digital portal managed by the department. In addition, workshops are planned to teach younger generations the nuances of the Kangra style, ensuring continuity.
Organizers say the project also aims to raise public awareness by organizing live concerts and collaborating with schools to include the songs in cultural curricula. Funding for the venture comes from the state’s heritage preservation budget and contributions from private donors who recognize the cultural value of these endangered art forms.
If successful, the program could serve as a model for other regions in India facing similar threats to their intangible cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of proactive documentation and community involvement.