Banaras Goes Global: The Worldwide Influence of Varanasi’s Music

The Banaras Gharana, a cornerstone of Hindustani classical music, has played a pivotal role in global music exchanges. Legends like Pandit Ravi Shankar, a sitar maestro from Varanasi, introduced Banaras’s classical traditions to the West, collaborating with artists like George Harrison of The Beatles. Their iconic partnership in the 1960s, including albums like Chants of India, blended Banarasi ragas with Western harmonies, sparking a global fascination with Indian music.

Contemporary artists continue this legacy. Tabla virtuoso Pandit Anindo Chatterjee, trained in Banaras, has performed with jazz musicians like John McLaughlin, integrating the gharana’s rhythmic complexity into fusion projects. International festivals, such as the WOMAD Festival, feature Banaras-based musicians, showcasing thumri and tabla alongside global genres, fostering cross-cultural dialogues.

Bhojpuri folk music, a vibrant tradition of Banaras, has found a passionate audience among Indian diaspora communities in countries like Fiji, Mauritius, Trinidad, and Suriname. Songs like kajri and birha, often performed at Chhath Puja or cultural gatherings, evoke nostalgia for Banaras’s ghats and villages. Artists like Kalpana Patowary, who draws inspiration from Varanasi, perform at diaspora events, blending folk with reggae or pop to appeal to younger generations.

Digital platforms amplify this reach. Websites inspired by Mamta Music Banaras distribute Bhojpuri remixes, such as Sawan Me Khail Leli Lahasun Pyaz, which gain traction among diaspora youth. YouTube channels and Spotify playlists dedicated to Bhojpuri folk connect Banaras’s music to global listeners, preserving its cultural essence.

Banaras’s devotional music, including bhajans and kirtans, has a profound global impact. The city’s spiritual aura, tied to the Ganges and temples, inspires artists worldwide. Anup Jalota’s renditions of Shiv Tandav Stotram and the Wadali Brothers’ Sufi-inspired bhajans resonate with audiences in the U.S., Canada, and Europe, where yoga and meditation communities embrace Banaras’s devotional sounds.

International kirtan festivals, like Bhakti Fest in California, feature Banaras-style chants, with artists leading call-and-response sessions rooted in the Sankat Mochan Temple’s traditions. Live-streamed Ganga Aarti performances from Varanasi’s ghats, shared on social media, draw global devotees, showcasing the universal appeal of Banaras’s spiritual music.

Varanasi’s music has left an indelible mark on global cinema. Hollywood films like The Darjeeling Limited (2007) incorporate Banarasi sitar and tabla, evoking the city’s mystic charm. International documentaries, such as Banaras: The Eternal City, feature soundtracks with local bhajans and folk tunes, introducing global audiences to Varanasi’s soundscape.

Collaborations with international composers, like Philip Glass’s work with Ravi Shankar, draw on Banaras’s classical traditions, creating minimalist compositions that echo the city’s rhythmic complexity. These projects highlight Banaras’s ability to inspire beyond Indian borders.

While Banaras’s music thrives globally, challenges include cultural dilution and limited resources for local artists to tour internationally. However, initiatives like UNESCO’s “City of Music” designation in 2015 have opened doors for global collaborations. Organizations like the Benares Music Academy facilitate artist exchanges, while festivals like the Varanasi International Music Festival invite international musicians to perform alongside local talent.

Pandit Ravi Shankar: A Banaras legend whose global concerts popularized Hindustani music.



Kalpana Patowary: A Bhojpuri folk artist connecting Banaras to diaspora communities.



Pt. Anindo Chatterjee: A tabla master whose international collaborations showcase Banaras’s rhythms.

Banaras’s music, from its classical ragas to its folk ballads, is a global phenomenon, weaving Varanasi’s spiritual and cultural essence into the world’s musical tapestry. Through collaborations, diaspora connections, and digital platforms, the city’s melodies continue to inspire and unite. As Banaras sings to the world, its music remains a timeless bridge between tradition and the global stage.