I met a Rajasthani folk musician on my trip to Agra ( U.P. India) sitting by the Taj Mahal and playing his instrument. He playing Indian bollywood movie Gadar song
" Udja kaale kaawan tere moonh vich khand paawan
Leja tu sandesa mera, main sadke jaawaan
Baagon mein phir jhoole padh gaye
Pak gayan mitthiyaan ambiyaan
Yeh chhoti si zindagi te raata lambiyaan lambiyaan
O ghar aaja pardesi, ke teri meri ek jindri…"
“Fly away black crows
want to put sugar in your mouth
Take my message with you
That I’ll sacrifice my life for you
The swings are back up in the gardens
Sweet little mangoes have ripened
In this short life
The nights are very long
Come home stranger
Our life is one”
He was oblivious of the people around him. His music was tranquil and earthly and delivered listener to a transcendental echelon. Rajasthan has a rich heritage of folk music. There are different groups of musicians in Rajasthan.
The Langas and Manganiars are groups of hereditary professional musicians, whose music has been supported by wealthy landlords and aristocrats for generations. Both sing in the same dialect, but their styles and repertoires differ, shaped by the tastes of their patrons. The monarchs of the courts of Rajput and Jaipur maintained large music and dance troupes in an environment where the arts were allowed to flourish. Though both communities are made up of Muslim musicians, many of their songs are in praise of Hindu deities and celebrate Hindu festivals such as Diwali and Holi. The Manganiar performers traditionally invoke the Hindu God Krishna and seek his blessings before beginning their recital. At one time, the Manganiars were musicians of the Rajput courts, accompanying their chiefs to war and providing them with entertainment before and after the battles and in the event of his death, would perform at the ruler’s vigil day and night until the mourning was over.
Langa literally means ‘song giver’. An accomplished group of poets, singers, and musicians from the Barmer district of Rajasthan, the Langas seem to have converted from Hinduism to Islam in the 17th century. Traditionally, Sufi influences prevented them from using percussion instruments, however, the Langas are versatile players of the Sindhi Sarangi and the Algoza (double flute), which accompany and echo their formidable and magical voices. They perform at events like births, and weddings, exclusively for their patrons (Yajman), who are cattle breeders, farmers, and landowners. The Langa musicians are regarded by their patrons as ‘kings’. “The ‘Sindhi Sarangi’ used by the Langas, is made up of four main wires, with more than twenty vibrating sympathetic strings which help to create its distinctive haunting tones. The bowing of these instruments is a skilful exercise, often supported by the sound of the ‘ghungroos’ or ankle bells that are tied to the bow to make the beat more prominent.
Khamaycha / Ravanhatta is the most significant instrument of Manganiyar community. It is like an ancient niche amongst string instruments which is linked with Manganiyar community since ages. Khamaycha is made up of mango wood. The big, round, hollow part on one end of it is covered with goat skin. This instrument has 17 strings out of which three special strings are made from goat’s intestine and the rest of the 14 strings are made up of steel. When they touch those three special strings with their special bow made from the horse’s hair, it produces some soul stirring music.
Watch the video here…