Two journeys of music, friendship and cultural exchange

In 2025 and 2026, Rina Das Baul Trio travelled across France, carrying the music and spirit of Bengal to new audiences. From mountain villages and vineyards to Mediterranean beaches and intimate cultural spaces, each concert became an opportunity to share music, stories and the simple philosophy of the Bauls.

A Journey Through France 

The first journey, from August 4–17, 2025, took the trio through places such as Tourves, La Brûche, Le Pradet, Hyères, Bormes-les-Mimosas, Fréjus, Gillette and Teloché.

The journey was as memorable as the concerts. There were long drives through mountains and vineyards, quiet walks by the Mediterranean, shared meals and conversations with people along the way.

Some concerts took place beside the sea, where the sound of the waves became part of the music. Others were held among vineyards, in mountain villages, cultural spaces and even a small backyard. At Le Pradet, the audience was deeply moved by Rina’s singing, while in Fréjus, conversations continued long after the music ended as people wanted to know more about Baul songs, instruments and life in Bengal.

The final concert at Teloché, held in a cultural space created from an old factory, became an emotional farewell. The audience was warm and enthusiastic, and the evening ended with hugs, tears and many memories.

Returning in 2026

The journey continued the following year. From August 10–21, 2026, the trio returned to France for ten concerts, travelling through Super Besse, Pelvezy, Domme, Gourdon, Les Mathes, Saint-Trojan-les-Bains, Fouras, Saint-Denis-d’Oléron, La Rochelle and Teloché.

Many people in the audiences were experiencing Baul music for the first time. Yet the music quickly created a connection. People danced, sang, listened closely and sometimes became visibly emotional.

The concerts also created spaces for conversation and cultural exchange. Audiences were curious about the traditional instruments, the stories behind the songs and the Baul way of looking at life. 

 

Beyond the Stage

The France tours were not only about performing. They were also about discovering each other.

The musicians travelled through unfamiliar landscapes, tasted local food, shared Indian meals with friends, explored villages and beaches, and met people who welcomed them with warmth and curiosity.

In return, the audiences discovered a living musical tradition from Bengal — a tradition where music is closely connected with everyday life, spirituality, love and the search for the human being within.

Music Without Borders

 

Baul songs are rooted in the soil of Bengal, but their emotions can travel far beyond it.

In France, the Ektara, Dotara, Sarinda and Khamak found new listeners. A Bengali song could move someone who did not understand the language. A rhythm could make strangers dance together. A simple melody could open a conversation between two cultures.

 

That became the most beautiful part of these journeys.

From Bengal to France, the music travelled across borders, carrying with it a message of love, peace, friendship and humanity. And wherever it went, it found people ready to listen.

– By Arpan Thakur Chakraborty