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. |

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).