This edition of framework:afield has been produced by framework regular contributor Keith De Mendonca using field recordings from India, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Nepal.

Framework:afield : festivals in India, Vietnam, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Following on from earlier editions of framework:afield in Asia #165, #188 and #340, this programme tours Asia during 2013.

We visit the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad where 100 million Hindus bathed at the confluence of the Ganges, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati rivers in 2013.

We then make our way to Jodhpur for a Rajasthani folk festival where local musicians are invited from across the musically rich Indian state to perform in the Mehrangarh fort under an Autumn full moon.

Following on are sounds from temples, street ambiance and traditional music from Hanoi and Hoi An, Vietnam. Then prayer wheels, bells, music and traditional dancing from Khatmandhu and Bharatpur in Nepal. Finally we visit the August religious festival in Kataragama, southern Sri Lanka.

for more information contact keith at @email.

[time - place : sound]

Kumbh Mela – India

00.00 – Varanasi : Bells and horns after the fire puja ceremony

01.35 – Allahabad : Pontoon 17 over the Ganges river at night

03.30 – Allahabad : Women singing around a camp fire

05.20 – Allahabad : Gamelan sounds from a campsite 2am

07.28 – Allahabad : Naga Sadhus chanting 3am

09.23 – Allahabad : Procession chants and ambiance

12.01 – Allahabad : Lost & found announcements

13.00 – Allahabad : Horns blown along the procession to the river

Jodhpur – India

16.20 – Jodhpur : Musicians practicing in the town square before a free concert

18.04 – Jodhpur : Two boys singing, clapping – stringed instrument accompaniment

20.00 – Jodhpur : Drums and Castanets

22.18 – Jodhpur : Circular men’s dance

24.03 – Jodhpur : Men’s dance (flat drum and metal castanets)

26.16 – Jodhpur : Jaw harp and tabla

30.09 – Jodhpur : Flutes

Vietnam

33.12 – Hanoi : Street loudspeakers

35.00 – Hoi An : Reed mat weaving machine

36.34 – Hanoi : Temple singing at Đình Tây Luông temple

38.59 – Hanoi : St Jospeh’s church bells

39.47 – Hanoi : Ca Tru musicians

42.30 – Hoi An : Reed mat weaving machine

42.40 – Hoi An : Riverside street market voices

42.55 – Hanoi : Temple singing at Đình Tây Luông temple

Nepal

44.58 – Khatmandhu : Bells and prayer wheels at the Boudhanath Stupa

45.56 – Khatmandhu : Teacher at the Swayambhunath Stupa

46.10 – Khatmandhu : Political speech, main square

46.20 – Khatmandhu area : Traditional dance

47.24 – Khatmandhu : pensioners singing along to a harmonium

48.51 – Bharatpur : Evening songs by a temple in the main square

Sri Lanka

49.30 – Mulirigala – Prayer whilst tying a Rakhi wrist band

50.27 – Kataragama : Blessings and bells at Maha Devale

51.07 – Kataragama : Street seller’s horns and bells

51.45 – Kataragama : Kavadi (peacock dance) band. Crowd hoops during piercings

53.34 – Amritsar : Stadium announcer at the India/Pakistan Wagah border

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