Rajasthan's Bhapang Master Awarded Padma Shri

Gafruddin Mewati Jogi, a distinguished folk musician from Alwar, India, will be honored with the Padma Shri award this evening. He is celebrated for his exceptional skill in playing the bhapang, a rare string percussion instrument deeply rooted in Rajasthan's devotional storytelling traditions.

Jogi, who identifies as a Mewati Jogi, uniquely bridges Hindu and Muslim heritage through his music. He has committed vast amounts of his life to memorizing approximately 2,500 couplets from the epic Mahabharat. His lifelong dedication involves performing Pandun Ka Kada, a practice that keeps a fading tradition alive in a region where few others continue to practice it.