राकेश उपाध्याय
भारतीय भोजपुरी लोकगायक

सदस्य, संत कबीर अकादमी, उत्तर प्रदेश

Rakesh Upadhyay, an Indian Bhojpuri folk singer, hails from the sacred land of Devrahwa Baba, near the holy city of Barahaj Nagar on the banks of the revered river Sarayu. He was born in the village of Karoundi, located 3 kilometres from the headquarters of Bhalluani Nagar Panchayat in Deoria district, Uttar Pradesh. Rakesh Upadhyay, the son of Kailash Pati Upadhyay, received his early education in Bhalluani at Saraswati Shishu Mandir and completed his studies at Gyan Prakash Inter College. He also pursued his 12th-grade studies in the field of agriculture science at Seva Samiti Banwari Lal Inter College in Deoria. He further pursued his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University. This folk singer, belonging to the lineage of Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya, initiated his singing career in his village by performing devotional songs, bhajans, and recitations from the Ramcharitmanas. Rakesh had a deep affinity for traditional songs since childhood, which he learned from his mother.

As a grade "A" artist on All India Radio Gorakhpur, Rakesh chose Gorakhpur, the city of Baba Gorakhnath, as his workplace. Noted singer, actor, and Member of Parliament Manoj Tiwari directed Rakesh's first audio album, "Gorakhpur Gorakshanath Bhoomi Ha Kashi Shiv Ke Nagari," with lyrics by Dharmendra Kumar Pandey. This album gained significant popularity in India and abroad, and upon hearing it, the former Member of Parliament and the Head Priest of Gorakhnath Peeth, respected Mahant Avaidyanath Ji Maharaj, invited Rakesh to the temple, blessed him, and bestowed his blessings. This incident took place around the year 2000. After that, Rakesh performed this devotional song of Guru Gorakhnath Ji on various platforms in India and abroad, gaining popularity.

Moving forward, Rakesh Upadhyay was selected as an empanelled artist by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). He was honoured with the Uttar Pradesh Music and Drama Academy Award in 2016 by the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt—Anandiben Patel, for his exceptional contribution to Bhojpuri folk music. Rakesh has presented his performances, including Holi Milan, Shri Krishna Janmashtami, and his folk songs, in the presence of the esteemed Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath. Recently, he has been appointed as a member of the Sant Kabir Academy by the Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh. Rakesh Upadhyay has not only showcased his talent in various events such as Kushinagar, Kapilvastu, Magahar, Prayagraj Kumbh, Taj Mahotsav in Agra, Ayodhya Deepotsav, and Ramayana Mela. Still, he has also enhanced India's prestige through his successful and splendid performances in South Africa (Durban), Bangkok, Muscat (Oman), the Netherlands, and Singapore.

राकेश उपाध्याय, भारतीय भोजपुरी लोक गायक देवरहवा बाबा की पावन भूमि,माँ सरयू के पावन बरहज नगर के समीप भलुअनी नगर पंचायत मुख्यालय से 3 किमी0 की दूरी पर स्थित ग्राम करौंदी,जनपद देवरिया में कैलाश पति उपाध्याय के पुत्र राकेश उपाध्याय नें बचपन की पढ़ाई भलुअनी स्थित सरस्वती शिशु मंदिर के साथ ज्ञान प्रकाश इंटर कालेज से पूरी की।साथ में 12 वीं की पढ़ाई सेवा समिति बनवारी लाल इंटर कॉलेज देवरिया से कृषि विज्ञान के साथ पूर्ण हुई। स्नातक एवं स्नातकोत्तर की पढ़ाई दीन दयाल उपाध्याय विश्वविद्यालय गोरखपुर से हुई। महामना पंडित मदन मोहन मालवीय जी के वंशावली का यह लोकगायक अपने गायन की शुरुआत ग्राम क्षेत्र से कीर्तन,भजन एवं श्रीरामचरितमानस पाठ के साथ प्रारंभ किया। राकेश को बचपन से ही अपनें संस्कार गीतों से गहरा लगाव था जो अपनीं माता बच्ची देवी से सीखा करते थे।

आकाशवाणी गोरखपुर से "ए" श्रेणीं लोक गायक राकेश नें अपनी कर्मस्थली के रूप में बाबा गोरक्षनाथ जी की नगरी गोरखपुर को चुना। जाने माने गायक,अभिनेता एवं सांसद मनोज तिवारी नें राकेश का पहला ऑडियो एलबम डिग्री कलेजवा में संगीत निर्देशन दिया तथा गीतकार धर्मेंद्र कुमार पांडेय थे, उक्त एलबम में "गोरखपुर गोरक्षनाथ भूमि ह काशी शिव के नगरी"देश विदेश में काफी लोकप्रिय हुआ,जिसको सुनकर तत्कालीन गोरखपुर के सांसद एवं गोरक्षपीठाधीश्वर पूज्य महंत अवैद्यनाथ जी महाराज ने राकेश को मंदिर बुलवाये और अपना आशीर्वाद प्रदान किये, यह बात लगभग सन 2000 के आस पास की है। उसके बाद राकेश ने देश विदेश के तमाम मंचों पर गुरु गोरक्षनाथ जी के इस भजन को गाकर लोकप्रियता हासिल की।

आगे चलकर राकेश भारतीय सांस्कृतिक सम्बंध परिषद (ICCR)के इम्पैनल कलाकार के रूप में चुनें गए। राकेश उपाध्याय को भोजपुरी लोकसंगीत गायन के क्षेत्र में उत्कृष्ट योगदान हेतु उत्तर प्रदेश की महामहिम राज्यपाल श्रीमती आनंदी बेन पटेल जी ने वर्ष 2016 का उत्तर प्रदेश संगीत नाटक अकादमी पुरस्कार प्रदान किया। उत्तर प्रदेश के माननीय यशस्वी मुख्यमंत्री योगी आदित्यनाथ जी महाराज के समक्ष होली मिलन, श्रीकृष्ण जन्माष्टमी एवं अपने लोकगायन की तमाम प्रस्तुतियां राकेश दे चुके हैं। अभी हाल ही में उत्तर प्रदेश की महामहिम राज्यपाल जी के द्वारा राकेश उपाध्याय को संतकबीर अकादमी का सदस्य बनाया गया है।राकेश उपाध्याय कुशीनगर, कपिलवस्तु, मगहर, प्रयाग दिव्य कुम्भ, ताज महोत्सव आगरा, अयोध्या दीपोत्सव एवं रामायण मेला में प्रस्तुति के अलावा दक्षिण अफ्रीका (डरबन) बैंकॉक, मस्कट(ओमान), नीदरलैंड एवं सिंगापुर में अपनीं सफल एवं शानदार प्रस्तुति से भारत का सम्मान बढ़ाने का काम किया है।

Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Singer in Gorakhpur, Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Gorakhpur Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Geet, Gorakhpur Mahotsav Singer
Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Singer in Gorakhpur, Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Gorakhpur Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Geet, Gorakhpur Mahotsav Singer

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He has enhanced India's prestige through his successful and splendid performances in South Africa (Durban), Bangkok, Muscat (Oman), the Netherlands, and Singapore.

Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Singer in Gorakhpur, Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Gorakhpur Bhojpuri Lokgayak, Rakesh Upadhyay Bhojpuri Geet, Gorakhpur Mahotsav Singer

HONOUR & ACHIEVEMENT

 Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Award 2016 By Hon’ble Governor Smt. Anandiben Patel Ji.
 Saryu Ratna Samman 2023 Barhalganj, Gorakhpur
 Vidya Bharati Samman 2020
 Felicitation By DM Gorakhpur On Republic Day Program
 Global Youth Of The Year Award 2005
 Many Albums Released By T-Series
 Established Category Empanelled Artist Via ICCR, New Delhi (INDIAN COUNCIL FOR CULTURAL RELATIONS)
 Winner of Folk Jalwa Prominent Talent Hunt Program Via ETV
 Honour for Upliftment of Disappearing Bhojpuri Folk Songs Via Akhil Bhartiya Bhojpuri Parishad
 A+ grade Artist All India Radio Directorate, New Delhi
 World Book Of Records London Samman For Providing Services under CoronaVirus Pandemic Through Online Performances

राकेश उपाध्याय
भारतीय भोजपुरी लोकगायक