Banyan Roots
Claim This Podcastby Lucia Thomas
Podcast Overview
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><strong>Banyan Roots</strong> is a podcast series in which songs and discussions from the Baul and Fakir, musical mystics of West Bengal, India and Bangladesh, guide conversations on history, ethnomusicology, and spirituality. Come curious listeners—musicians, scholars, spiritual seekers, and anyone drawn to traditional music and living devotional practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Featuring original field recordings of spontaneous jams and interviews with Baul musicians and teachers, each episode explores different themes of Baul philosophy - from awareness of the body and the breath, to the tangled roots of Bengal’s devotional traditions: Vaishnava Kirtan, Sufi Qawwali, and even traces of Vajrayana Buddhism. Listeners will be taken on an immersive journey through the remote villages of Bengal, experiencing aurally the chaotic streets, the heated debates, and the intoxicated mad music. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Banyan Roots is produced by Gene Nemirovsky and distributed by Amplisounds Radio. </span></p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/17/2026
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Recent Episodes
June 26, 2026
Khwajababa and the Bengali Sufi Tradition
Exploring bhakti - devotion, this time with a focus on Islamic symbolism. Some songs will be extolling the 12th century Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti, also known as Khwajababa.
May 22, 2026
In the Garden of Krishna’s Love
In the Garden of Krishna’s Love is the first episode to explore bhakti - devotion, and specifically songs showing devotion to Hindu Gods and Goddesses. We will hear from Baul masters on the importance of devotion in one’s spiritual progress as well as learn the historical significance of the Bhakti movement in India. ********** Songs: Bhakti Bina Se Dhon Mele Na Composer: Sotish Gosai Singer: Anath Bondhu Ghosh Eseche Kunjero Dware Composer: Jadubindu Gosai Singer: Rina Das Baul Krishna Anurager Bagane Composer: Ananta Gosai Singer: Rabi Das Baul Instrumentals: Jekhane Sai’r Baramkhana Composer: Lalon Fakir Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir Rai Jago Go Composer: Traditional Performed by: Ochin Pakhi featuring Nathan Torrence on bansuri Kirtan Chant Composer: Traditional Singer: Priest and devotees at Hare Krishna Temple in Rogers Park, Chicago Ei To Tomar (intro) Composer: Rabindranath Tagore Performed by: Ochin Pakhi, featuring Soumyajyoti Ghosh on bansuri Khandana Bhava Bandhana Composer: Swami Vivekananda Performed by: Ochin Pakhi Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to Subhajit Sengupta for co-hosting, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show. Podcast is recorded, curated and hosted by Lucia Thomas. For photos and more info please visit Amplisounds Radio.
April 24, 2026
Rejecting Caste: All are Brothers of my Heart
“Rejecting Caste – All are Brothers of my Heart" is a further exploration of manus twatto - the theory of humanity, this time focused on jat, or caste. Some Fakiri singers will discuss what caste felt like to them and what the great poet-saint Lalon Fakir had to say about caste. **** Songs: “Jat Gelo Jat Gelo Bole” Composer: Lalon Fakir Singer: Amirul Fakir “Sorol Dese Jao” Composer: Matal Rajjak Singer: Jamsher Fakir “Nishedh Karo Ogo Brinde” Composer: Ajahar Fakir Singer: Khaibar Fakir Recording courtesy of: Suvankar Dassharma & Sudip Ray (Dubki project) “Achhe Manus Hridoy Pinjiray” Composer: Prafulla Sarkar Singer: Uttara Baidya “Manus Bhojle Sonar Manus Hobi” Composer: Lalon Fakir Singer: Jamsher Fakir Instrumental Backgrounds: 1. Jekhane Shai’r Baramkhana Composer: Lalon Fakir Dotara Player: Amirul Fakir 2. Jat Gelo Jat Gelo Composer: Lalon Fakir Dotara player: Amirul Fakir 3. Snowflake and Inver Bank Band: Baba Yaga’s Stew Composers: Lucia Thomas and Patrick Davey 4. Raag Yaman Alap Violinist: Lucia Thomas Many thanks to Biplab Ghosh, Arnab Sengupta, Rina and Manosij Goswami for help in the field, to Gene Nemirovsky for audio engineering, to Subhajit Sengupta for co-hosting, to the Fulbright-Nehru program and to all the musicians and teachers who recorded for this show. Podcast is recorded, curated and hosted by Lucia Thomas For photos and more info please visit Amplisoundsradio
6 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Banyan Roots?
<p><span style="font-weight:400;"><strong>Banyan Roots</strong> is a podcast series in which songs and discussions from the Baul and Fakir, musical mystics of West Bengal, India and Bangladesh, guide conversations on history, ethnomusicology, and spirituality. Come curious listeners—musicians, scholars, spiritual seekers, and anyone drawn to traditional music and living devotional practices.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Featuring original field recordings of spontaneous jams and interviews with Baul musicians and teachers, each episode explores different themes of Baul philosophy - from awareness of the body and the breath, to the tangled roots of Bengal’s devotional traditions: Vaishnava Kirtan, Sufi Qawwali, and even traces of Vajrayana Buddhism. Listeners will be taken on an immersive journey through the remote villages of Bengal, experiencing aurally the chaotic streets, the heated debates, and the intoxicated mad music. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight:400;">Banyan Roots is produced by Gene Nemirovsky and distributed by Amplisounds Radio. </span></p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Information about guest appearances is not available.
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