Kavishari

Kavishari was started in the Malwa region of Punjab by the 10th Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Sahib, as a sung form of "Chhand-Baddh" kavita (poetry). There was a need of a particular singing style or genre that could energize the Sikh soldiers. So the Kavishari was mostly sung about bravery, known as Veer Ras, one of the nine Ras' ('flavour'/'subgenre') of the genre. The term kavishar is made of two words: kavi means 'singer', and shayar means 'writer' or 'poet'. As such, "kavishar" means 'person who writes and sings (poetry)'. == Characteristics ==

Kavishari is based on vocal and wording/lyrics. Singing style is its voice, chhand is its body, and the ras ('flavour'/'subgenre') is its soul. Many kind of chhands are used in kavishari. A noted kavishar of Punjab, Babu Rajab Ali, used some rare Chhands like Manohar Bhavani Chhand and gave some new chhands like Bahattar Kala Chhand to kavishari as well as Punjabi literature. There are nine accepted Rasas (subgenres) of kavishari, out of which the most commonly known four are: • Veer Ras (Heroic) • Shant Ras (soulful or peaceful) • Vairag Ras (mystic) • Haas Ras (comic) It was the Veere Ras that is most commonly sung today and specially for the need of which the genre was created. == Notable kavishars ==

Below are notable kavishars. Malwa's kavishars include: • Babu Rajab Ali — one of the notable kavishars of Majha • Gurmukh Singh Johal • Dalbir Singh Gill ==See also==