Promotion of Tourism Through the Rich Folk Culture of West Bengal
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Volume : 4 | Issue : 11 | November 2015 ISSN - 2250-1991 Research Paper Tourism Promotion of Tourism Through The Rich Folk Culture of West Bengal Sudipta Mukherjee Lufthansa City Center , 161 Lenin Sarani , Kolkata – 700013 Swapnadip Lufthansa City Center , 161 Lenin Sarani , Kolkata – 700013 Bhattacharya India with its unique cultural diversity and reach cultural tourism components invites a great number of tourists to visit India. All the Indian states is remarkably good in their cultural representation, thus West Bengal is one of them with reach cultural tourism product. Folk culture creates authenticity and distinctiveness in the global and regional tourism market. Tourism experiences which can connect people and visitors to local cultures are very important in this regard. All folk art and culture forms of West Bengal are ethnic in nature. They remain within a particular geographical region – Bhadu and Jhumur of Bankura, Jhumur and Nanchni of Purulia are the finest example. Folk culture tourism also encourages the continued recognition of culture as economic drivers by local, regional tour operators, local people and tourism marketing organizations. This paper examines how folk culture tourism allows producers and performers keep their trends alive ABSTRACT through increasing revenue. This paper also explore the folk and cultural tourism destinations in west Bengal which are managed by folk art hubs and performing artists for preserving and promoting their valuable cultural resources and how folk cultural hubs and villages can be created by taking special initiative and support by several Self Help Groups, banks, co operative societies, State Government. KEYWORDS Ethnic, Resources, Authenticity, Distinctiveness, Experiences Introduction gramming of the human mind that distinguishes the members Tourism is a worldwide phenomenon. Tourism as an industry of one human group from those of another. Culture in this has been growing with the pace of technological advance- sense is a system of collectively held values (http://changing- ment and people from different countries and cultures are minds.org/).’ A culture is a way of life of a group of people, interchanging their views and life styles among themselves. the behaviours, beliefs, values, and symbols that they accept, The positive effects of tourism on a country’s economy always generally without thinking about them, and that are passed includes the growth and development of several industries along by communication and imitation from one generation directly associated with tourism industry, such as accommo- to the next. dation, transport , adventure and wild life , arts and culture. This creates new jobs opportunity and revenue generated Folk culture actually is a localized form of culture refers to from foreign exchange earnings, investments and payments the identity of a folk group. Folk culture conventionally means of goods and services provided towards the tourists. As tour- products and practices of a group of people who share at ism has many segments, and the oldest from of tourism is re- least one common factor—be it a language, caste or occu- ligious tourism which had paved the way of forming tourism pation. As for example, people of a certain district or a cer- as a product. tain area or place of a state adherent of a particular religious sector or people belong to a particular occupation. The folk Cultural tourism is one of the growing sector in the tourism culture is manifested in song and dance, storytelling and my- industry and has become more popular after the World War thology, everyday artefacts and clothing, food, habits, social II when people grew more interest in knowing others culture customs, work practices such as farming, craft production and and life style. India with its unique cultural diversity and reach religion. Researchers and collectors from the later 19th and cultural tourism components invites a great number of tourists first half of the 20th centuries formulated a notion of “the to visit India. All the Indian states is remarkably good in their folk” as relatively untouched by the modern world and of folk cultural representation, thus West Bengal is one of them with culture as precious survivals and relicts from bygone cultures reach cultural tourism product. Over the years, the culture of transmitted orally down through the generations (http://www. West Bengal has emerged as the perfect blend of moderni- oxfordbibliographies.com/). Therefore, folk culture is often ty and traditions. Bengal donates to the creation of identity associated with tradition, historical continuity, sense of place, is ethnicity. All folk art and culture forms of West Bengal is and belonging. ethnic in nature. They remain within a particular geographical region – Bhadu and Jhumur of Bankura, Jhumur and Nanch- Importance of folk culture ni of Purulia are the finest example .The myths of a certain Folk culture is related to folk people and it may be called as region form the plot and story of these art forms. These art people’s performances. This term actually means to perform forms are the totality of the cultural experiences of particu- arts and traditions of a region or state. Folk culture includes lar regions. And they are highly popular and religious. Various folk dance, rural drama and musical variety of the village peo- cultural groups who helped them rise beyond time. Until we ple. Traditional folk culture just not only describes dance and mention the tribal population of Bengal the discussion will be music, it also includes art and crafts. Indian folk performance incomplete. A large variety of tribes found in almost all the is a fine art and it’s a creation of art by the fusion of elements nooks and corers of the state, and adds an exquisite flavour from music, dance, versification, epic ballad recitation, religion to its culture. About 38 types of tribes which are nearly 2% of and festival. It includes ceremonials, rituals, beliefs and the the entire population of West Bengal can be seen in this state. day to day image of the social system. It is just only a glimpse of music, dance, dress and rituals of the people in rural set Culture and Folk culture up. The collection of great mythological heroes, sweet medi- According to Greet Hofstede ‘Culture is the collective pro- eval romances, day to day social customs and rituals, people’s 155 | PARIPEX - INDIAN JOURNAL OF RESEARCH Volume : 4 | Issue : 11 | November 2015 ISSN - 2250-1991 beliefs, and great legends are the subject matter of it. As the included in the list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible themes of folk culture are derived form the local forms of art, Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO. it is nearly to the hearts of the local people, and appealing and popular to the other people of the world also. These Kirtan: The Kirtan is the earliest form of music which con- forms are performed by the local people for their own enter- sists of sonorous mingles of sweet music and lyrical ballad. tainment and necessity and it is also important for social com- Slow measure in ballads is delivered by the main singer of the munication and prevention of ancient culture of the region. group and recitation of the same, in same tone and pitch, is defined musically by the rest of the members. The trend fol- Role of folk culture in tourism promotion lows until the whole song based mostly on mythical episodes Folk culture creates authenticity and distinctiveness in the or story of God are completed with the same zest and enthu- global and regional tourism market. Tourism experiences siasm. The musical instruments using by the kirtania (per- which can connect people and visitors to local cultures are forming group) are Tampura, khol, box harmonium and vio- very important in this regard. Theme of destinations is also lin. In west Bengal most of these kind of famous and popular linked to specific folk cultural events which may also play a songs, known also as harinam, based on lord Krishna and role of catalyst in the development of tourism. Any product Radha. may it be man made or nature made, it is not valued to the tourists until it has any cultural importance. Folk culture builds Fakiri and Sufi: Fakiri music is a genre or song based on Su- a cultural value and strength and helps marketing the prod- fism and sometimes inspired by Fakirs. This genre is general- uct. It emphasizes the quality and authenticity of the visitor’s ly meant as an expression of devotion to Allah-the supreme experience and attracts more tourists to the destination. It also power, but it also can be a way to enhance the connection conveys the richness and diversity of a place or culture and between the physical and spiritual aspects of the Preacher and meets the visitor’s demand and knowledge. Folk culture in- his followers. Many fakiri orders perform this style of music volves both visitors and host community at the same time and in a variety of sub-genres during special ceremonies. Most of it has a power of creating a new form of tourism without any these kinds of songs are related to Nabi, the preacher, and his high capital investment with its dynamic and changing nature. followers. It may develop interpretation programs designed to inform , educate and interest visitors for the various parts of the world Vadu: Bhadu Puja is observed in the Bengali month of Bhadra and can minimise cultural exploitation by creating awareness (mid-August-mid-September) and is a very common festival of among the host community about their own folk culture. It the villagers of Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum and some part of has a great potential for generating income in a particular re- Paschim-Medinipur. “People believe that worshipping Bhadu gion and can be one of the prime tools for community de- Devi enables childless women to bear children.