World Music Day

Music has emerged to be one of the major driving tools of life since the beginning of time. It does not confine itself into being a mere source of entertainment and its purpose transcends beyond our regular mode of existence while providing with a sense of peace and belongingness throughout the whole journey of life. Music therapy seems to have evolved as an effective therapeutic procedure that never fails to contribute to the betterment of mental health treatments across the globe. Music therapists use music as a developmental tool to help patients improve their social, emotional, psychological, aesthetic and spiritual life.

Apparently the concept of devoting a specific day to celebrate something as precious as music seems unlikely and baseless since music plays a huge role in our life on a daily basis to help us grow as individuals. However, the way it emerged is very interesting and it has found its way to establish itself as a remarkable day in our yearly timetable.

Festival of Music/ World Music Day aka Fête de la Musique was first celebrated in Paris on June 21, 1981. Although the initiative had been taken by American musician Joel Cohen in 1970s, France was the first country that made it possible to celebrate it in a royal manner for the very first time. This particular day also happens to be the longest day of the year. From 1981 onwards, this day has started to be celebrated as the World Music Day in over 120 countries which primarily focuses on recognizing the local musicians and their endless talents which are otherwise unnoticed and to some extent, ignored. In 1981, the culture ministers happened to organize an event that explored different strategies to bring out musicians on the street who would perform collectively. This event was a successful one that created a sense of harmony and unity amidst the chaotic monotony of life.

From this time onwards it has become a ritual in many countries where musicians come out on the streets and play their instruments for fun and entertainment and not any monetary purpose on this particular day. This concept started serving many purposes in the society which include but are not limited to conducting free concerts on the streets, creating a collective space where both the professional and the amateur musicians would feel free to show their art form, providing free and unlimited access to musical events to people who would otherwise not be able to afford it and bonding with people in general.

With the passing years, more and more people have started joining the venture. The way of celebration is subjective. People from different countries celebrate it in their own unique ways which has further created a diverse sphere among the countries where all aspects are different but music. This initiative therefore has eventually established itself as a collective movement that aims at creating a sense of togetherness and unity which never confines itself as a mere commercial source of entertainment. It allows everyone to involve themselves in a correlative space driven by music that knows no caste, religion, gender, age and goes beyond every preconceived mortal binary to achieve a state of endless peace and harmony.

-Suvasree Bandyopadhyay