Culture
of Rajasthan
Rajasthan is a vibrant state where tradition and history blend with contemporary
life styles. People are proud of their heritage and yet open to change western
values.
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.
