RAJASTHAN - THE LAND OF VIBRANT, SPIRITED AND EVOCATIVE MUSIC

Emanating from a tradition that is old and undisturbed, and from a culture that has imbibed the best from its neighbouring states of Sindh, Gujarat, Malwa, Mewat, Haryana and Punjab, in Rajasthan, music is deeply engrained in the hearts and souls of the inhabitants.


There is opulence and diversity in Rajasthani music, which is rich, heroic, melancholic and joyful, and governs all aspects of Rajasthani lives. The voices, both male and female are full-throated, strong and powerful. The numerous songs sung by the women reflect the various feminine moods and strong family ties that govern their lives.

The legendary battles of the Rajputs are told through songs. The music engenders both a spirit of identity and provides entertainment as relief from the daily grind of wrenching a living from the inhospitable land of heat and duststorms

Men and women of Rajasthan sing devotional as well as festive songs. Songs by the saint-poets like Kabir, Meera and Malookdas are part of the folk repertoire are sung all night during the ‘raatijagas’ (all night affairs spent in singing devotional songs), which are held as thanks giving to a particular deity.

MUSICAL MOODS
The hard life of the desert dwellers made them seek means of making life more pleasant by developing their artistic talents. There are many traditional communities who are professional performers and their skills are handed down from generation to generation.

‘Peepli’ and ‘Nihalde’ are songs imploring the beloved not to leave her or to return to her as soon as he can. There are songs about the family, comparing every number to the numerous ornaments worn by women. The festivals of Gangaur and Teej, celebrating marital bliss and the brief but splendid monsoon of Rajasthan call for special songs without which, no celebration is complete.

A plethora of fairs and festivals brings gaiety, a wild riot of colours and music into the dry lives of these desert people. Holi, the festival of colours, brings forth the joyous, lively rhythms of the ‘changs’ and ‘dhamal’ songs. Marriages, childbirth, the visit of the son-in-law, all call for song and music.

Instruments
The Stringed Instrument
The ‘sarangi’ is the most important folk musical instrument and is found in various forms in Rajasthan.
The ‘langas’ use the ‘Sindhi sarangi’. It is made up of four main wires, seven ‘jharis’ and seventeen ‘tarafs’. The bowing of these instruments is a skilful exercise, often supported by the sound of the ‘ghungroos’ or ankle bells that are tied to the bow to make the beat prominent.

Another remarkable bowed instrument is the ‘kamayacha’ of ‘manganiyars’, with its big, circular resonator, giving out an impressive deep, booming sound.

The ‘ektaara’ is also a single string instrument, but it is mounted on the belly of a gourd attached to a body made of bamboo. In western Rajasthan, a simple instrument called the ‘morchang’ is very popular, that resembles the Jewish harp.

Wind Instruments
These are the instruments that are played by blowing into them.The ‘algoza’, common in the Tonk-Ajmer areas, is such two-flutes played together. The ‘satara’ of the ‘langas’ has one long flute and another flute to provide the drone.
The ‘narh’ or ‘nad’ produces music most evocative of the desert. It is a vertical with a single long hollow tube, into which the player whistles at the same time while gurgling a song in his throat or actually singing intermittently that has a haunting effect.

The Autophonic Instruments
The bells are the first of the autophonic instruments.
The ‘ghanti’ or the ‘ghanta’ are commonly used and the ‘ghungroo’ (ankle bells) form an integral part of the music. There are the ‘manjeeras’, which are made of brass in the shape hemispherical metal cups stuck against each other.
The ‘jhanit’ and the ‘taala’ are different kinds of ‘manjeeras’. A single metal plate, the ‘thali’, forms another variety of musical instruments. This is struck in various ways producing different kinds of tones and rhythms. Rhythmic music is also provided by the ‘khartals’, which are disc jinglers, struck against each other.

Percussion
Different kinds of drums form this group of musical instruments. They are of various kinds: the two-sided ones, the single sided drums, the shallow rimmed and single-faced. Single faced instruments are played singly or in pairs. The largest single conical drum is the ‘bam’ of Bharatpur. The earthern pitcher, locally known as ‘matka’ and the ‘ghada’ has its mouth covered with membrane.

The state government has provided patronage and opportunities for self-employment for folk artists by organizing fairs, festivals and cultural programmes. It has also aroused and directed the interest of the local people towards the preservation of our rich cultural heritage.

General Information
Main Attraction : Desert Festivals, Marwar Festival, Pushkar Fair.