TITLE | ATTRACTIONS | GLIMPSES | FESTIVALS | CULTURE | CITIES

BACK

MUSIC OF RAJASTHAN

Rajput monarchs were no savage warriors but cultured men who respected the arts. The arts flourished under the patronage of aristocrats gifted with a great generosity of spirit. The Jaipur monarchs maintained a huge “gunijankhana” where musicians, dancers and performing artists were kept on handsome stipends. Many of the maestros or “ustaads” in the Jaipur gunijankhana were Muslims and the Jaipur court musicians spawned a great “gharana” (school) of “Khayaal” singing. The “dhrupad” singing form also attained its apogee here and to date Jaipur remains the adopted home of the Dagar brothers-the premier exponents of this classical form.  

The “manghniar” musician invokes the Hindu God Krishna (the patron saint and purported ancestor of the Bhatti rulers) and seeks his blessings before he launches into his recital. To date the same community of musicians also sings the pandvani, extolling the brave exploits of the heroes of the Hindu epic Mahabharata.  

Apart from classical forms like khayal and dhrupad, a unique form of singing called maand (whose most famous exponent remains the octogenarian Allah Jillai Bai of Bikaner) also flourished in the royal courts of Rajasthan. The febrile pulse of Rajasthan, beats the fiercest in its exuberant folk songs and dances. Wizened old bhopas and dholis, jogis, and miraasis-all traditional singers-chant ditties about folk heroes of yore-Baba Ramdeo, Gogaji, Tejaji, Dhola Maru, and Jethwa Ujli-in voices surprisingly strong and passionate. Performances open with the stirring call of the imposing trumpet, the bankia. Musicians use ancient, unsophisticated instruments that produce strangely mesmeric sounds. These include, twin flutes called algoza, the hypnotic Jewish harp or morchhang, the stringed instrument with a tinkling cluster of bells called the ravanhatta and the earthen pitcher or matka turned in the hands with amazing dexterity and used as a percussion instrument. The deep thunderous notes produced by these drums played with sticks provide a fitting musical accompaniment to massive community dances like the rasamandal and ghoomar.

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. They are sung all night during the raatri jagas (all night soirees spent in singing devotional songs) which are held as thanksgiving to a particular deity.  

Fairs and festivals bring an even greater riot of colour and music into the lives of these desert people. Holi, the festival of colours, brings forth the joyous, lively rhythms of the Change and Dhamal songs. Marriage, childbirth, the visit of the son-in-law, all call for song and music. Even children have their own special songs called the Saanjhi and the Ghudla. Favorites that are sung at all times are the Panihari, Eendoni, the famous Ghoomar, Morubai, Gorbandh, Shankariya, Kurjan, Digipuri-ka-Raja and the Rasiya songs of the Braj region.

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. The Bhats and Charans are bards, who could inspire the Rajput warriors with accounts of heroic deeds by whipping up patriotic fervor or even ridiculing the royal families with their satire.

The wandering balladeers, like the Bhopas who sing about the Marwar folk hero-Pabuji, travel from village to village with their phad painting and rawanhathha entertaining people with their ballad. There are many singing communities in Rajasthan known as the Dholis. Also known by other names like Mirasis, Dhadhis, Langas, Manganiyars, Kallbelias, Jogis, Sargaras, Kamads, Nayaks or Thoits and the Bawaris. Today their music can be heard all over the state and is popular even on the National & International circuits. The best flavour of this rich artistic talent can be savored during various fairs & festivals of the state, specially during the desert Festival (Jan-Feb),the Pushkar Fair (Oct-Nov),the Marwar Festival (Sept-Oct) and the Camel Festival (Jan-Feb).