One of the most eminent personalities in the Uttarakhand folk music industry is none other than Pritam Bhartwan. Known as ‘Jaagar Samraat’ around Uttarakhand and worldwide, he has made a different mark for himself.
Jaagar is a type of ceremony where the Auji or the Jaagri sings and calls upon divine powers to bless the people. Pritam has played a vital role in getting Jaagar the recognition that it rightfully deserves.
Speaking of his childhood, he was born and brought up in the Raipur block of Dehradun Uttarakhand. Coming from a family of Aujis, music was something that he inherited from his forefathers.
He was always fond of playing the Thaali and Dhol since he was 6, he says. He used to accompany his father and uncle to Jaagar ceremonies and learned more about this ancient folk art.
Even during his school time, he was a versatile child. He participated in many cultural events. His first public performance came after his uncle got tired of singing and asked Pritam to complete on his behalf. The artist in him finally got to show people his talent.
His big break came from the album ‘Tausa Bau’ in the year 1995, recorded by Rama Cassettes. Till now, he has sung over 350 songs and recorded more than 50 albums.
He is recognized as Jaagar Samraat, Sur Samraat, Bhagirathi Putra, and Himalayan Ratna worldwide. He has helped Jaagar, being known to people all across the globe as the ancient folk music of Uttarakhand. He has performed numerous shows in Dubai, England, Germany, Oman, the United States Of America, and so on.The craze for Pritam Bhartwan jagar has reached overseas in recent times. Other Pritam Bhartwan Garhwali songs are also chart busters of Uttarakhand.
For his work, he was awarded the Padma Shree in the year 2019. He has also trained many young people from the marginalized community to play the traditional Dhol Damau to preserve the legacy of Jaagar and earn for their families.
His work for the preservation of our culture is unforgettable.