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Culture
of Rajasthan
Culture of Rajasthan
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).
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