The 8th Annual Himalayan Dhrupad Retreat 2025 will be held from Saturday 8 March 2025 to Saturday 15 March 2025, at the Himalayan Forest Camp in Gular, Uttarakhand, India.
Dhrupad is a medieval musical art form regarded as one of the major traditions of Indian culture and the core of Indian classical music, practiced mainly in northern India. The origin of dhrupad can be traced back to the tradition of prabandha, the chanting of Sanskrit verses. This musical genre took a definite shape in the 16th century under the tutelage of Swami Haridas, a highly respected saint-musician, poet, composer and teacher. Among his disciples were the renowned Tansen and Baiju, who contributed to establish the culture of dhrupad as the most refined and subtle form of classical musical rendition.
Passed down through centuries of oral tradition, the knowledge of dhrupad encompasses the mastery of right intonation, tonic shades with appropriate melodic movements, improvisation, the rendering of poetic contents, as well as the discipline of time keeping, rhythmic cycles and variations. The sonic experience of dhrupad helps to transcend the self into a highly meditative state of mind.
Nestled in the deep Himalayan jungle, within walking distance of a pristine waterfall and the Ganga river, in a bowl valley populated by ancient exotic trees and birds, dhrupad practitioners are embedded in a majestic and peaceful natural environment, invigorating pure air and a serene atmosphere conducive to the learning process of this fine musical art.
Dhrupad training is provided by Pandit Nirmalya Dey in three intensive two-hour sessions commencing with pre-dawn practice of voice training (kharaj), followed after breakfast by a later morning session, and then an afternoon session. In between these group sessions, there is ample time allocated for individual practice, relaxation, or a dip in the holy Ganga or the nearby magical waterfall, both of which are accessible via a walk through the deep forest. Participants will also enjoy the tasty and healthy vegetarian food prepared by the camp chef, and a bonfire under the stars after dinner.
The program of the retreat is structured in a way that allows students to acquire knowledge and skills according to their current level. Beginners learn the scales of ragas, melodic phrases and nuances of dhrupad singing. Advanced students are also given the opportunity to further develop their skills in improvisation and exposition of ragas and song-texts.
The participants, some of whom are regulars at this retreat, share a friendly and supportive camaraderie, regardless of their musical level, because the learning of dhrupad is not about competition, but about experiencing and exploring sonic energy that can transcend the ego. The students are taught by the master, but they also practice together and can learn from each other. Participants leave the retreat rejuvenated by the salutary natural environment and powerful experience, and with enough musical material to practice at home for a year, until the next annual dhrupad retreat.
REPORT ABOUT DHRUPAD RETREAT IN HIMALAYA 2024
This retreat took place at the Forest Camp, in a Himalayan valley near Gular village, from 10 to 16 March 2024, under the guidance of Pandit Nirmalya Dey. Participants from seven countries have joined the workshop to learn and imbibe the art of dhrupad singing.
Please enjoy a short documentary video about this retreat.