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Why Kashmir’s Mughal Gardens Are Becoming a Cultural Filming Hub Again

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For centuries, Kashmir’s Mughal Gardens have stood as living poetry—carefully shaped terraces, flowing water channels, ancient chinar trees, and views that feel almost unreal. Built as spaces of reflection and beauty during the Mughal era, these gardens were never meant to be silent monuments. They were designed for music, conversation, art, and gathering. Today, that original spirit is returning, as Kashmir’s Mughal Gardens once again emerge as vibrant cultural filming hubs for music, cinema, and storytelling. In recent months, filming has resumed in the Kashmir Valley after a period of uncertainty, with music album crews capturing performances inside Srinagar’s historic Mughal Gardens. This revival is not just about aesthetics—it marks a deeper cultural renewal where art, heritage, and resilience come together. Mughal Gardens: Designed for Art, Not Just Admiration The Mughal Gardens of Kashmir—Shalimar Bagh, Nishat Bagh, and Chashme Shahi—were created as places where architectu...
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Poetic Beauty of Kashmiri Sufi Folk Music - Explained Through Ba Paerai Khan

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Kashmiri Sufi folk music does not demand attention—it gently welcomes you in. It flows like the Jhelum, calm yet profound, carrying centuries of poetry, devotion, and lived experience. Ba Paerai Khan, presented by Raahein Gharana, revives this timeless tradition with care and reverence, reminding listeners that Sufi music from Kashmir is as much about warmth and hospitality as it is about melody. When Music Becomes an Invitation, Not a Performance At its heart, Ba Paerai Khan is built around an invitation. Phrases like cxe ban mehmaan (“be my guest”) and ti gaxhi jaan haai vesiye (“that would be the best, my friend”) are not just lyrics—they reflect Kashmir’s cultural ethic of openness, compassion, and shared humanity. This is where poetry and philosophy meet in sound. The Roots of Kashmiri Sufi Folk: Poetry Born from the Valley Sufi folk music in Kashmir evolved through centuries of spiritual practice, oral storytelling, and poetic expression. Unlike music meant for spectacle,...
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Why Teri Choti Is More Than a Song - It’s Haryana’s Folk Identity Reimagined

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Folk music has always been the heartbeat of Haryana. It lives in the courtyard of every Chaupal, in the rhythm of harvest seasons, and in the stories passed down through generations. But every once in a while, a song arrives that does more than entertain - it rekindles cultural memory. “Teri Choti,” an original Haryanvi folk-style romantic song by Raahein Gharana, is one such creation. Rooted in traditional imagery yet presented through a contemporary folk-fusion arrangement, Teri Choti doesn’t just add to Haryana’s musical landscape - it reshapes how folk identity can be experienced by today’s listeners. A Song Rooted in Folklore, Wrapped in Romance At its core, “Teri Choti” is a celebration of feminine grace as seen through the eyes of rural Haryana. The song paints its muse with small, intimate details - her jingling choodiyan, the soft glow of mehndi, the rhythm of her payal, and the elegance of her ghungroo. Each image transforms everyday ornaments into symbols of affection. This ...
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The Making of Teri Choti – A Haryanvi Folk-style Romantic Song Rooted in Culture

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“Teri Choti” is a romantic Haryanvi folk-style song created under Raahein Gharana , a platform dedicated to preserving and evolving India’s native and folk music traditions. The song celebrates her beauty and playful nature, created with the hope that its emotions can connect across cultures and remain timeless. It brings a fresh romantic expression to Haryanvi folklore while staying true to the tradition that defines it. A Blend of Tradition and Modern Creativity What makes “ Teri Choti ” truly special is the way folk artists and native instruments come together with a new melody and contemporary musical ideas. Traditional instruments like Harmonium, Indian Banjo, Ghada, and Ghungroo, along with modern additions like Octapad, Guitar, and Keyboard, are blended in a smooth, thoughtful way. This fusion shows how folk music can evolve while still staying deeply connected to its roots. Two Generations, One Beautiful Duet The song is performed as a conversational duet by DC Madana, kn...
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How Rhythmic Roots Reconnects Indians with Their Heritage

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In a world where trending playlists change overnight, some sounds never fade. The beats of the dhol, the hum of the sarangi, the rhythm of the tumbi - these are not just instruments; they are echoes of India’s living history. Raahein Gharana’s initiative “Rhythmic Roots” is bringing these echoes back to life - reconnecting Indians with their cultural soul through the timeless language of folk music. Rediscovering the Heartbeat of India India’s folk music is not confined to stages or studios — it lives in fields, festivals, and community gatherings. Each region has its own rhythm: The energetic beats of Rajasthan’s “Jalalo Bilalo” , echoing the courage and celebration of desert life. The soulful “Kanji” from Odisha , preserving stories passed down through generations. The festive flow of Kerala’s “Thuzha” , inspired by the harmony of Onam traditions and boat race rhythms. The emotional “Challa Mudke Aaya” from Punjab, where longing and reunion find voice through folk melodies...
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Beyond the Dhol: The Soul and Storytelling of Punjabi Folk Music

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When many people hear “Punjabi folk music,” the first instrument that comes to mind is the dhol . It’s loud, festive, and impossible to ignore. But to reduce Punjabi music to that one booming drum is to overlook the subtle threads that define its storytelling power. Through voice, melody, instrumentation and metaphor, Punjabi folk songs carry lived experience - of love, loss, belonging and movement. The recent song Challa Mudke Aaya , released by Raahein Gharana, is a case in point. It layers folk sounds with modern rhythms to tell a family story that feels both personal and universal. In doing so, it offers a window into how Punjabi folk music continues to evolve while remaining rooted in soul and narrative. Roots of the Tale: Storytelling as Punjabi Identity Stories are central to Punjabi life - shared on porches, in fields, at weddings. Folk songs are part of that tradition. They are portable dramas: Boliyan at weddings express advice, gentle teasing, longing. Tappas often s...
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Music as a Bridge: How Challa Mudke Aaya Tells a Father-Son Story

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There is a long tradition in Punjabi folk music of songs that carry family stories—of leaving, longing and, sometimes, return. Challa Mudke Aaya, released by RAAHEIN Gharana under the Rhythmic Roots: Punjab series, takes that tradition and extends it. Musically and narratively, the song becomes a bridge: between father and son, past and present, rural roots and modern rhythms. At its heart, Challa Mudke Aaya is a story everyone recognises. A young man leaves home to chase dreams; success arrives with cost; distance and misunderstanding follow; and, finally, there is the fragile, redemptive return. The song does what great music does best—it translates private emotion into a shared experience and, in the process, brings old instruments, local voices and contemporary sounds into one conversation. The Challa: A Symbol That Speaks Volumes In Punjabi folklore, the word challa carries layered meaning. Often, a ring or a token stands for separation, longing, and memory in many folk songs. RAA...
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