Durga Jasraj commemorated her family’s “Musical Pooja Day” by fondly recalling her father, the renowned Hindustani classical singer Pandit Jasraj, who had a unique ritual of drinking coffee during his performances to maintain his voice quality. She shared on social media how her father, affectionately known as “Bapuji,” relied on coffee to keep his vocal cords lubricated while performing. In addition to coffee, Pandit Jasraj also favored misri and clove, especially during lengthy classical recitals.
Remembering her father with reverence, Durga designated the 17th of each month as their “Musical Pooja Day,” a time when the family pays homage through musical offerings of raags and taal. She expressed her love and sought blessings from her father, stating that this ritual was their way of showing affection towards him. Pandit Jasraj, known for his 75-year musical career, left a lasting legacy through his classical and semi-classical vocal performances, devotional music, and innovations in various genres like Haveli Sangeet and the promotion of the Mewati Gharana.
Pandit Jasraj, who passed away in 2020 due to a cardiac arrest at his home in New Jersey during the Covid-19 lockdown, had a significant impact on Indian classical music. His musical journey was enriched by his marriage to Madhura Shantaram, daughter of renowned filmmaker V. Shantaram, with whom he had two children, Shaarang Dev Pandit and Durga Jasraj, along with four grandchildren.
