Bengali Music with Ochin Pakhi

Ochin Pakhi (the unknown bird) is a metaphor for the breath. These musicians from Chicago and West Bengal, India, explore melodies and philosophies of the Baul and Fakir, musical mystics of Bengal.

Free tickets will be given out starting at 2:30 pm to persons who are present.

Subhajit Sengupta and Swarnali Banerjee lead the group with melodious and powerful voices, and are accompanied by traditional folk instruments from that region--dotara, tabla, dubke, and khamok--as well as flute, cello, violin, and accordion.

According to Baul philosophy, the human body is a microcosm of the universe, and by knowing the true nature of the body, one will know the nature of the universe. Thus, these mystics worship the body through meditation. One of the core teachings is that there is no difference between any people--Hindu, Christian or Muslim, higher or lower caste, male or female--all people are divine conduits of God, and all should be respected, even worshiped. But this philosophy, which is many centuries old, was not accepted by mainstream Bengali society. In order to avoid confrontation and persecution, the Baul encrypted their teachings in metaphorical songs. Ochin Pakhi performs these very songs with ecstatic melodies and profound lyrics.

"Inside this cage is an unknown bird, how does it come and go?" said Lalon Fakir, one of the most influential Bengali musical saints, in his famous song “Khachar Bhitor Ochin Pakhi” (খাঁচার ভিতর অচিন পাখি.)

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