6.2 Songs of the Soil
Complete textbook exercise solutions — Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six English.
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About the chapter
This lesson is about the folk songs of India. It describes the Powada and Owi of Maharashtra, Bihu of Assam, Chakri of Jammu and Kashmir, and Burra Katha of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Folk songs are passed down from one generation to the next. They keep our culture and history alive.
Key points
- Powada is a Marathi ballad that praises heroes; it is sung by Shahirs.
- Owi is a Marathi verse form sung by women while working.
- Bihu is a folk song of Assam, sung during the festival.
- Chakri is a folk song of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Burra Katha is a story-telling folk performance of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- Folk songs preserve our culture, history and values.
Words to remember
- folk song – a traditional song of the common people
- ballad – a song that tells a story
- heritage – traditions passed down from the past
- generation – people born and living at the same time
- glorify – to praise highly
| Description | Answer | Traditional folk song |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Traditional Marathi verse form or a short poem | (d) | Owi |
| (ii) A folk song from Jammu and Kashmir | (c) | Chakri |
| (iii) A traditional folk storytelling and musical performance popular in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana | (a) | Burra Katha |
| (iv) Traditional folk song of Assam, sung during the festival | (b) | Bihu |
The fifth form in the lesson is the Powada — a Marathi ballad that glorifies the heroic deeds of great leaders and warriors, composed by Shahirs and originating in the time of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
| Sr. No. | Name of the State | Traditional dance | Traditional wear |
|---|---|---|---|
| i. | Maharashtra (given) | Lavani, Koli Dance | Nauwari Sari, Dhoti-Kurta |
| ii. | Punjab | Bhangra, Giddha | Salwar Kameez with Phulkari dupatta; Kurta with Tehmat and Turban |
| iii. | Gujarat | Garba, Dandiya Raas | Chaniya Choli; Kediyu with Dhoti |
| iv. | Assam | Bihu | Mekhela Chador; Dhoti with Gamosa |
| v. | Rajasthan | Ghoomar, Kalbeliya | Ghagra Choli with Odhni; Angarkha with Pagdi |
| vi. | Tamil Nadu | Bharatanatyam, Karagattam | Kanjeevaram Sari; Veshti (Dhoti) with Angavastram |
- RASLEELA (Uttar Pradesh) — Column 1, down
- BHANGRA (Punjab) — Column 8, down
- BIHU (Assam) — Column 3, down
- DANDIYA (Gujarat) — diagonally, from row 1 column 2
- LAVANI (Maharashtra) — diagonally upwards, from row 10 column 1
- GHUMAR (Rajasthan) — Row 9, across
- TAMASHA (Maharashtra) — Row 10, backwards
For your own crossword of musical instruments: DHOL, PEPA, HARMONIUM, DHOLAK, CHIMTA, SARANGI, TABLA, SITAR, VEENA, FLUTE.
- formation = form + -ation
- performance = perform + -ance
- traditional = tradition + -al
- awareness = aware + -ness
- musical = music + -al
- historical = historic + -al
The Importance of Folk Songs
Folk songs are the songs of common people. They are passed down from one generation to the next. They are a part of our cultural heritage. Songs like the Powada tell us about the brave deeds of heroes and keep our history alive. The Owi expresses the feelings and wisdom of village women. Folk songs also teach moral values and give us joy during festivals. They make us proud of our culture. So we must preserve and sing our folk songs.
- /θ/ as in thin — think, thank, three, thumb, month, mouth, path, tooth, birthday
- /ð/ as in this — that, these, those, they, there, mother, father, brother, weather
- /j/ as in yes — yellow, young, year, yard, yoga
- /aɪ/ as in my — why, sky, fly, try, cry
- /iː/ as in happy — city, baby, lucky, sorry, story
- /ɪ/ as in gym — symbol, system, myth, crystal
This is a project activity. Students should collect and record folk songs from their own area and present them in class.
Where to collect from: grandparents and elderly neighbours · songs sung at weddings, harvest and festivals · jatra and village fairs · local bhajani mandals. Ask about the story behind each song, when it is sung, and who taught it to them.