There is a sweetmelody that lingerson much after you

have heard - Suhani Raatdhal chuki hai, Saranga teriyaad me and Dunia bananevale kya tere man meinsamai, Mukesh’s every-green songs in DevindraPooran’s voice. Pooran im-mortalizes the great singersof Indian cinema as wellpays tributes to music. Called the heart throb of

Caribbean, DevindraPooran is the most sortafter Caribbean singer whonow lives in the US andentertains the Indo-

Caribbean people at anyimportant event. With anamazing ability to singHindi film songs with greatease Pooran renews theHindi film music of 60s’70s and 80s.

Artists are made of tal-ent, dedication and love-Pooran has all these threein abundance. Born inHague, West Coast Demer-

ara, Guyana where hespent his childhood andformative years Pooran isnot new to fame. Startinghis earlier singing days inGuyana, he learnt themusic on his own and wonmany competitions. “Iloved Hindi movies andHindi film music.” Hemoved to the Unites statesin 1989 for better opportu-nities like others whocome from all over theworld but kept alive hislove for music.Now in their 30th year,

Bharat Yatra is famous forarranging comfortable ex-

citing trips to India, bring-ing talented artists on theirtrip, to entertain the travel-ers and to introduce theartists to the land of theirforefathers.Devindra Pooran is

looking forward to his sec-ond trip to India in October– “back to roots”, as hecalls. Pooran traveled toIndia with Bharat Yatra in

2010 and drenched him-self in the land’s beauty,serenity and culture.Even though there has

been more than a centuryand half ago Indians werebrought to the Caribbeanby the British, it seemsjust yesterday. The newgeneration still feels theneed to reconnect withtheir roots, religious fer-vor, beliefs and philoso-phy which they heard andaccepted as its custodiantheir forefathers broughtfrom thousand miles acrossIndia to the Caribbean.

“Everybody likes to getout and travel as it changesyour perspective when yougo to a new place, but Indiais very special for us,”

says the soft spoken andwell mannered Pooran. “Ilook forward to seeingIndia again; touching thewater of Ganga, see its

beautiful monuments,places and cities,He has great memories

of his earlier trip to India in2010. “Bombay is my fa-vorite city, its pace, its cul-ture and its beauty. It isalso the home of Bolly-wood.” Smiles Pooran.He feels although India

has changed since his an-cestors came to theCaribbean as indenturedlaborers, but there aremany links, like Ganga,which connect us withIndia.He feels blessed to have

been born and raised inGuyana. “It was very goodlife there, you felt relaxed.Everything was natural,trees, crops, milk and lifestyle.” The Caribbean leg-endary singer adds that hischildren were lucky to havespent their childhood there,who like singing but don’tspent much time. “Life isfast in the US.” He adds.Talking about his im-

pression of India Pooranfeels that he loved India.“Although the traffic waslike in Manhattan, butsomething about the airwas fascinating. I lovedbeing in India. That’s whyI’m going back.”“India is the country

where Krishna and Ramwere born, land of Tulsidasand Ganga, “ he adds, “Ofcourse land of Taj Mahaland Gandhi,.” He said hereally enjoyed going toGandhi’s birth place andseeing the other placeswhere Gandhi lived. Reflecting upon his first

travel, Pooran said the

Bharat Yatra was thebest. “Its tour directorRamesh D. Kalicharranknows everything. Hehas been doing it for thepast 30 years and makesyour travels and stay verycomfortable as he takespersonal interest in smalldetails like, food, stayand tour. Experiencedoes count, nobody cando like him,” addsPooran.

Talking about hismusic career, Pooransays his best memorywas of 2005 Bollywoodawards, where he sang.He also enjoyed singingin the 80s in Guyana,when he sang with Indian

singer Ashok Hari, a popu-lar Bollywood playbacksinger .“Music was relaxing

and provided peace,” saysPooran. He was veryhappy to continue singingforever. “Ever and for-ever.” He smiles. He washappy that his family wasvery supportive of him,“Otherwise I wouldn’thave made here.” He said he enjoyed his

musical contests in Guyanaand likes now here in theUS. “It is a beautiful jour-ney.”With 23 CDs, many ear-

lier vinyl recordingand cassettes, to hiscredit Pooran says hewas content wherehis musical journeyhas brought him. Heowes it the Caribbeanpeople, who alwaysloved him and hisvoice.

Although havinga full time job,Pooran finds time formusic between hiswork and sleep.Without any formaltraining in music, he

learnt on his own, withinner dedication and a lotof practice. One reason forhis love for music was hislove for Hindi movies andHindi music.Anoop Dhanpat, leader

of the “Sansar SangeetBand,” producer of theNew York “Mastana Bhar,”and the disciple of notedmusician late Hari OmSaran of India, promotescultural musical talents andgives the young talentawards. Parvati Khan wasthe first one to get “Mas-tana Bahar award” inTrinidad. Dhanpal saidamong young talents Victo-ria Labban, Elyse Ba-booram were coming up.

He said Devindra Pooranwas the best Indo-Caribbean singer. We arelucky to have him. Devin-dra put a lot into hismusic.”‘Kali Bharat Yatra is

scheduled from October 26to November 11, 2013.Singer Devindra Pooranjoins the trip after threeyears. They will be visitingNew Delhi, Akshardham,Rishikesh, Haridwar,Jaipur, Fatehpur Sikri,Agra, Taj Mahal and otherfamous places in northIndia.

Celebrate Diwaliin Incredible India

2014Call 718-291-9292 • 917-407-9090

Kali Travel & Tours is the Pioneer of the Caribbean in

Taking Bharat Yatra to India for almost 3 Decades

Recognized by:Government of IndiaMinistry of Tourism

—C el eb ra t i ng —3 0

Gl or i ou s Year so f

Ka l i B ha r at Y a tra

Cele-brate Holi

in Incredible India

India Fascinates Me: Devindra PooranBy Sue Vijh

Trinidadian born Anoop Dhanpatleader of Sansar Sangeet Band

Melody KingDevindra Pooran

A special moment at the popular Kaiteur Restaurant in Richmond Hill New Yorkthe place where the dynamic trio-performs every Sunday from 8:00 to 12 PM

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