Meet The Boatman From Varanasi Who Performs Bhajan, Kajri, And Thumri Across Ganga Ghats

Boatmen across the world are often known for their music which is generally indigenous according to the waters they ferry across. Each of these songs is soulful and is imbibed with innumerable stories and emotions that touch the soul.

One such boatman from Varanasi is going viral for his effortless classical singing which attracts tourists and in fact the whole of the holy city every day.

He is Bhumi Nishad. A humble boatman who ferries people across the Ganga Ghats all day in all seasons for it is his bread and butter. But what sets apart Bhumi from other boatmen in the area is the fact that he sings for his passengers and his songs are not very simple but with very complicated note arrangements that cannot be easily sung by most people even by those who train to sing.

Bhumi is a resident of Nishad Ghat of Varanasi and that is how he gets his name. He would wake in the wee hours and wake the town singing through its lanes.

“Every morning I wake and sing my way to the tea shop. All the people, whether Hindu or Muslim would wake to my songs, and then I would reach the Ganges to whom I pray. People come from far away places to hear me sing,” said Bhumi in an interview.

Rowing the oars of the wooden boat, Bhumi would mesmerize anyone who hops into it with his Bhajans, Kajris, and Thumris, all of which he has never traditionally learned.

“I have not learned music. I pick from here and there and I don’t know know how I have picked Thumris or Kajris. It all comes from the Ganga. It is she who inspires me,” the boatman told.

Kajri, and Thumri are counted as the most difficult forms of Hindustani Classical Music for their breathless rendition with an array of consecutive notes that form Harkats, and Alaaps. It is no less than a miracle that it comes to Bhumi naturally.

On being asked why he has never music as a full-time profession, the wise boatman reasoned,” If I leave Banaras, then it will be empty. I may earn millions elsewhere but everyone comes to Banaras for its Ras (nectar) and the city lets them have its taste”.

Despite his exceptional talent, Bhumi has no big dreams or lust for fortune. He believes in a simple life.

“Everyone needs money for a living, even I do. But I don’t aim for too much. I am happy with a simple life,” Bhumi concluded.

We cannot wait to visit Varanasi and ride in Bhumi’s boat to listen to his divine songs, we bet even you have a similar wish.