Rajasthan
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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. Thevoices 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 aswell 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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