Palash Sen sings 'Bedu Pako Baro Masa' on Ganga banks in Rishikesh
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Singer Palash Sen, frontman of Indian pop-rock band Euphoria, has shared a six-year-old video of himself performing the beloved Pahadi folk song 'Bedu Pako Baro Masa' on the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh, evoking a wave of nostalgia among fans of Indian folk music traditions.
A Spontaneous Folk Moment Revisited
Posting the throwback clip on Instagram, Sen described the performance as entirely unplanned. In his caption, he wrote: 'Pahadi blast from the past. 6 years back, this day we were in Rishikesh, right on the banks of Ma Ganga .. this song just came out so spontaneously. We share it with you today.'
The video captures a candid, unscripted musical moment — one that Sen says reflects the band's enduring bond with the folk music heritage of India.
What the Song and the Moment Represent
'Bedu Pako Baro Masa' is a traditional Kumaoni folk song from the Uttarakhand hills, widely regarded as a cultural anthem of the Pahadi region. Its roots trace back to composer Mohan Upreti, and the song has been reimagined by numerous artists across generations. Sen's impromptu rendition on the sacred riverbank lends it fresh resonance.
In the accompanying note, Sen articulated Euphoria's musical philosophy: 'The thing about Euphoria is that music is our passion, our soul, our life .. and we truly celebrate the folk music of our great nation.'
Music Over Fame: Sen's Philosophy
Going beyond nostalgia, Sen used the post to reaffirm the band's core values. 'Wherever we are, music is with us. Music is the reason we do what we do with conviction. The side quests of fame, money and power are not our quests. Just living simply singing our simple songs. Not worried about the future or regretting the past, just euphoric in the moment,' he wrote.
The sentiment resonates with Euphoria's trajectory — a band that has deliberately stayed outside mainstream commercial formulas while continuing to release original work through independent, DIY methods.
Euphoria's Journey and Legacy
Palash Sen founded Euphoria in 1998, and the band has since released 16 singles by embracing the DIY approach and the digital revolution in the music industry. Known for blending pop-rock with socially conscious, satirical songwriting, the band was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2012 by the Indian Recording Arts Academy at the Palm Expo in Mumbai.
Separately, on 26 October, Sen shared glimpses from his medical college days on Instagram — another window into the personal history of the singer who trained as a doctor before music became his life's calling.
As regional folk traditions increasingly find new audiences through digital platforms, moments like Sen's Rishikesh recording underscore the quiet but powerful role indie artists play in keeping those traditions alive.