Chilla
Encyclopedia
In Hindustani classical music
, chilla or chilla katna is a stage of training or ritual where the student is fully isolated from the outside world and lives for music only. Some musicians spend long periods of their training in varying degrees of isolation and describe these as their chilla; for others, it's a shorter, more extreme retreat, traditionally lasting 40 days. In either form, it is thought to have the power of transforming not only the student's music, but his whole life. Chilla is widely used in the Punjab gharānā (school) of tabla
playing.
Abdul Karim Khan
, a singer of the Kirana gharana
, described chilla as "lighting a fire under your life. You either cook or you burn. If you cook, everyone can enjoy your flavour – otherwise, you'll be a mass of cinders, a heap of ash."
The word Chilla can also refer to the forty days after childbirth during which the mother is said to be "unclean", or quarantined, or more generally a period of religious fasting and worship..
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
, chilla or chilla katna is a stage of training or ritual where the student is fully isolated from the outside world and lives for music only. Some musicians spend long periods of their training in varying degrees of isolation and describe these as their chilla; for others, it's a shorter, more extreme retreat, traditionally lasting 40 days. In either form, it is thought to have the power of transforming not only the student's music, but his whole life. Chilla is widely used in the Punjab gharānā (school) of tabla
Tabla
The tabla is a popular Indian percussion instrument used in Hindustani classical music and in popular and devotional music of the Indian subcontinent. The instrument consists of a pair of hand drums of contrasting sizes and timbres...
playing.
Abdul Karim Khan
Abdul Karim Khan
Ustad Abdul Karim Khan , was an Indian classical singer of the Kairana gharana .-Early life and background:...
, a singer of the Kirana gharana
Gharana
In Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style. A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology. This ideology sometimes changes substantially from one...
, described chilla as "lighting a fire under your life. You either cook or you burn. If you cook, everyone can enjoy your flavour – otherwise, you'll be a mass of cinders, a heap of ash."
The word Chilla can also refer to the forty days after childbirth during which the mother is said to be "unclean", or quarantined, or more generally a period of religious fasting and worship..