About
Dohar (meaning chorus) is an Indian folk-music ensemble based in Kolkata, founded on 7 August 1999 by Rajib Das and Kalikaprasad Bhattacharya, who came to Kolkata from the Barak Valley of Assam. The group specialises in the folk styles of greater Bengal and the Northeast, and has spent over two decades collecting, preserving and performing this music in as authentic a form as possible.
Founded in 1999 under the creative direction of Kalikaprasad Bhattacharya, a noted folk singer and researcher, and co-founder Rajib Das, Dohar set out to make the unnoticed folk songs of Bengal and the Northeast reach wide audiences. Over the years they released numerous albums and performed across India and abroad, becoming a leading force in Bengali folk revival. After Kalikaprasad's untimely death in 2017, Rajib Das took the ensemble forward, and Dohar celebrated its 25th year in 2024, continuing its mission of collecting and reviving folk traditions.
The artistry
Dohar's approach sets them apart from bands that give folk a pop makeover: they research and perform the folk songs of Bengal, the Barak Valley and the Northeast with fidelity to their original forms, using a wide array of traditional instruments, srikhol, kartal, ananda lahari, ektara, dotara, sarinda and more, many sourced or made by the musicians themselves. Their live performances, built on chorus singing and deep repertoire, have made them one of the best-loved folk acts in Bengal and the diaspora.
[Atlas Perspective] Dohar is among the most important and respected Bengali folk ensembles, combining performance with genuine preservation. For festivals and heritage initiatives engaging Bengali and Northeast folk, they are a top-tier, authentic booking.
Dohar has played a central role in collecting, preserving and reviving the folk music of greater Bengal and the Northeast, keeping endangered songs and traditional instruments alive and bringing them to wide audiences. Their fidelity to original forms makes them an important cultural-preservation force as much as a beloved performing ensemble.