Atul Purohit: A living legend when it comes to Gujarati folk music and Garba.

On February 27, 1955, in a little community named “Dholar” close to Dabhoi, Atul Purohit was born. His mother was a housewife, and his father was a farmer and a priest (pujari). Hindu households would periodically sing bhajans and Lokgeet in front of their neighbors. His enthusiasm for singing and music was first ingrained from them. At the very early age of 10, when he received his first harmonium, he began learning on his own. His passion was for music, so he decided to follow it and started playing for free in the streets of Vadodara-Gujarat with like-minded individuals after earning his degree in arts from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda in 1975 with a concentration in theatre. He aimed to explore Sugam sangeet and devotional music after grasping the traditional touch of folk. He received training from several teachers, or “Ustads,” and over time, he began to develop his stage presence and started performing live. The pride of Gujarat is its old Garbi music, which has a rich history. Atul Purohit specializes in three musical genres; Sugam Sangeet, Bhajan, and Sufi are some of his musical inspirations.