Rajasthan Culture
Rajasthan-
the land of royalty is a glittering jewel set in the golden sands of a barren
deserts landscape. The light that reflects off the golden sands engulfs a land
renowned for its vibrant colors, people in bright clothes and beautiful jewelry,
living in cities dotted and dominated by towering forts and palace that rise from
the sands like mirage.
The brightness of its life, the legends of its
heroism and romance are all captured in the vibrant and evocative music of this
desert land. There is a richness and diversity in Rajasthani music which comes
from a tradition that is old and undisturbed, and from a culture that has imbibed
the best from its neighboring states of Sindh, Gujurat, Malwa, Mewar, Haryana
and Punjab.
Music which rich evocative heroic plaintive and joyful governs
all aspects of Rajasthani lives. The voices both male and female are strong and
powerful. The numerous songs sang by the women reflect the various feminine moods
and strong family ties that govern their lives, 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 member to the numerous ornaments
worn by women. The festivals of gangaur and teej, celebrating marital bliss and
the brief but splendid moonsoon of Rajasthan call for special songs without which
no celebration is complete.
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 raatjagas
(all night soirees spent singing devotional songs) which are held as thanks giving
to a particular deity. The resonant singing of the Rajasthani folk is accompanied
by music from simple instruments like the Baara and Algoza, that usally give a
beat or a drone to offset the poetry.
Fairs and festivals bring an even
greater riot of colour and music into 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 Ghulda.
Favorites that are sung at all times are the Panihari Eendoni, the famous 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 Bhat and Charans are bards, who could inspire the Rajput warriors
with accounts of heroic deeds by whipping up patriotic flavor 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 with
their phad painting and rawan hahha entertaining people with their ballad. There
are many singing communities in Rajasthan known as the Dholis.. Also known by
other names like Mirasis, Dhadhis, L angas, Manganiyars, Kalbelias, Jogis, Sargaras,
Kamads, Nayaks or Thotis and the Bawaris.
Today their musician be heard
all over the state and is pepular even on the national & international circuits.
The best flavor of this rich artistic talent can be savored during various fairs
& festivals of the state, especially during the Desert Festivals (Jan-Feb),
the Pushkar Fair (Oct-Nov), the Marwar Festival (Sept-Oct) and the Camel Festival
(Jan-Feb).
