3 half centuries dhaadi jathas ballad singers enthralled sikh community highpitched singing exclusively men last decades women ask genre traditional music may started late certainly melted hearts fervent singing received wider trend fair sex dhaadi jathas pop out never really ban women women gurbani kirtan gurdwaras common practice somehow take though panache singing existed outside spiritual circles always remain male affair says gurdial singh lakhpur president international dhaadi gurdeep kaur neetu rajbir kaur bhago started singing among pioneers first among first women dhaadi jathas insist jatha called barnale walian bibian da jatha first audio cassette school mother keen learn style singing father amateur sarangi player motivated us says part jatha led balbir kaur hails village story like content household chores denied education beyond class x rebelled union husband firmly slope since childhood passionate something life years marriage thought forming dhaadi jatha husband learnt sarangi years ago make jatha husband plays sarangi says sarabjeet kaur village benapur jalandhar one women sarangi actor sarangi go identity second cleaning woman began playing sarangi first jatha village ranipur tells proudly started jatha natural matter husband comrade dhaadi hubby conk decided continue profession feel like discontinuing jatha honesttogod friend invite quite a little respect affectionateness difficult say distinguishes dhaadi jathas women groups fact male jathas known name orator needs easily versed sikh history related issues women jathas usually named interestingly even jathas one two three women members still named women says saroop singh kadiana prominent dhaadi jatha president gurmat parcharak sabha doaba also repugn assembly election aap fine phillaur lost narrow case lakhwinder kaur greenwich village khangoora near phagwara sarangi player khangoore walian bibian da jatha though hubby lakhwinder singh lecturing member jatha known woman jatha take form jatha known phagware walian bibian da jatha used stay phagwara two members acquire married grouping disintegrated says kaur married lakhwinder singh already dhaadi formed jatha named khangoore walian bibian da kaur nakodar similar story formed jatha still studying marriage formed new jatha name even though husband gurjit singh hersarangi kaur traces similar journey started group sister around years ago allwomen group marriage circularise says live village barsaalan also dominion jalandhar named group village barsaalan walian bibian da jatha husband wellchosen accompanist playing sarangi thing made journey women jathas different parallel narrative women almost always struggle pose genial acceptance may broken tradition women jathas found acceptance almost canada thrice people treat us respectfully says amandeep kaur kaur whose jatha called pasle walian bibian da jatha says parents reluctant said want become stage singer readily agreed wanted form dhaadi jatha sang dhaadi vaar youth festival guru nanak dev university girls first prize later work jatha elder sister says takes pride fact dhaadi jatha gets equal invitations programmes male counterparts taken music subject college later stake graduation by nature treasured singing career also wanted identity parents relatives take pride says kaur