About Rajasthan
Rajasthan,
the “land of kings” situated in the northwest, is one of the largest states of
India. It is a region that remained largely independent during the British
colonial period and consisted of some 23 princely kingdoms with which the
British maintained treaties and provided protection. After independence, these
(often warring) Rajput states were united under the banner of Rajasthan. Bordered
in the west by the Pakistani provinces of Sindh and Punjab; in the south and
east by the Indian states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh; and in
the north by Haryana and Punjab (India), it is divided by a low mountain range
known as the Aravalli Hills into two very different areas. While the eastern
region is green and fertile, the western consists largely of the Great Thar
Desert, an arid and semi-arid area that stretches across the border into
Pakistan. It is this region that provides the rich cultural diversity
represented by this evening’s music and dance, and from which the Roma (Gypsy)
people most probably originated.
Rajasthan has one of the liveliest folk traditions in India. The music is
driven by pulsating rhythms created by an array of percussion instruments, the
most popular of them being the dholak,
a double-headed barrel drum, whose repertoire has influenced other Indian drums,
including the tabla. The song lyrics
deal with every aspect of life and human expression—including love, separation,
heroism, patriotism, respect for nature, marriages, birth, and death—and about
the love for God.
The music and dance is richly varied, representing the distinctive styles of
the different groups that make up this desert land. The Langas and Manganiyars
make up two 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. 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 Manganiyar performers traditionally invoke the Hindu god Krishna and seek
his blessings before beginning their recital. At one time, the Manganiyars were
musicians of the Rajput courts who accompanied their chiefs to war and provided
them with entertainment before and after the battles. One of their instruments
is the bowed kamayacha
with its big, circular resonator that gives out an impressive deep, booming
sound. The Langas (“song givers”), from the Barmer district of
Rajasthan, converted from Hinduism to Islam in the 17th century. Traditionally,
Islamic influences prevented them from using percussion instruments. Instead,
the Sindhi sarangi and the algoza double flute were used to accompany
and echo their formidable voices.
The Sindhi sarangi is made up of four
main strings, with more than 20 vibrating sympathetic strings that help to
create its distinctive haunting tones. The bowing of this instrument is often
supported by the sound of the ghungroos
(“ankle bells”) that are tied to the bow to make the beat more prominent. The Saperas (from the word sap, meaning “snake”) are a sub-group of
the community of Kalbeliyas; they specialize in curing snakebites and in
snake-charming. They catch snakes by enchanting them with their pungi, a double clarinet. The Saperas
have their own music, but perform professionally with Langas.