Music & Dance of Rajasthan
Rajasthan
is culturally rich and has extensive tradition in art and culture, which reflects
Indian way life. The dance, music and art forms have been watchfully cultivated
and patronised by the erstwhile courts. An equally rich and varied folk culture
from villages is both fascinating & mesmerising.
The music is of uncomplicated innocence and songs depict day-to-day relationships
and chores more often focal around bring of water. Rajasthan's cultural tapestry
takes in simple folk to highly cultivated classical music and dance in its own
distinct style.
In the realm of the folkways dance and music rule supreme and one cannot think
of Rajasthan without this important element of its folk life. A large variety
of musical instruments is used in the countryside.
It ranges from the soft tinklers to thunderous kettledrums; from simple, slender
flutes to intriguing trumpets; and from the rustic looking resonators for basic
rhythm to elegant and fully developed bowing or plucking devices.
It
is a fascinating sight to see the folk musicians of Rajasthan with their musical
instruments, who besides dressing themselves in colourful attire, also decorate
and embellish their instruments with beautiful trappings and ornamental coverings.
They are a people with music in their souls.
Their amazingly rich music has an extraordinary individuality, tradition and
exotic flavor, which gives a distinctive feature and quality to their musical
sounds, and a certain pulse which does not fail to fascinate the listener, staying
like lingering perfume.
They have songs for every occasion with rich emotional content, almost an endless
variety of tunes, quite a few delightful dance forms, and a large number of
musical instruments, all a collective creation of the folks which is retained
by them in its traditional form and character and passed from one generation
to the other.
The
people of Rajasthan live life to the hilt. After hard work in the harsh desert
sun and the rocky terrain whenever they take time off they let themselves go
in gay abandon. There is dancing, singing, drama, devotional music and puppet
shows and other community festivities which transform the hardworking Rajasthani
into a fun-loving and carefree individual. Each region has its own folk entertainment,
the dance styles differ as do the songs. Interestingly enough, even the musical
instruments are different.
Of considerable significance are the devotional songs and the communities who
render these songs. Professional performers like the Bhaats, Dholis, Mirasis,
Nats, Bhopas and Bhands are omnipresent across the state. They are patronised
by the villagers who participate actively in the shows put up by these travelling
entertainers. Some of the better known forms of entertainment are:
Ghoomar Dance: This is basically a community dance for women and performed
on. auspicious occasions. Derived from the word ghoomna, piroutte, this is a
very simple dance where the ladies move gently, gracefully in circles.
Gait Ghoomar: This is one of the many dance-forms of the Bhil tribals.
Performed during Holi festival, this is among a few performances where both
men and women dance together.
Gait: 
Another
Holi dance but performed only by men. This becomes Dandia Gair in Jodhpur and
Geendad in Shekhawati.
Chart Dance: This is popular in the Kisherigarh region and involves dancing
with a chari, or pot, on one’s head. A lighted lamp is then placed on the
pot.
Kachhi Ghodi: This is a dance performed on dummy horses. Men in elaborate
costumes ride the equally well decorated dummy horses. Holding naked swords,
these dancers move rhythmically to the beating of drums and fifes. A singer
narrates the exploits of the Bavaria bandits of Shekhawati.
Fire Dance: The Jasnathis of Bikaner and Chum are renowned for their
tantric powers and this dance is in keeping with their lifestyle. A large ground
is prepared with live wood and charcoal where the Jasnathi men and boys jump
on to the fire to the accompaniment of drum beats. The music gradually rises
in tempo and reaches a crescendo, the dancers seem to be in a trance like state.
Drum Dance: This is a professional dance-form from Jalore. Five men with huge
drums round their necks,some with huge cymbals accompany a dancer who holds
a naked sword in his mouth and performs vigorously by twirling three painted
sticks.
Teerah Taali: The Kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwana perform this
dance in honour of theft deity, Baba Ramdeo. A rather unusual performance where
the men play a four-stringed instrument called a chau-tara and the women sit
with dozens of manjeeras, or cymbals, tied on all over their bodies and strike
them with the ones they hold in their hands. Sometimes, the women also hold
a sword between their teeth or place pots with lighted lamps on their heads.
Kathputli: 
Puppet
plays based on popular legends are performed by skilled puppeteers. Displaying
his skill in making the puppets’ act and dance, the puppeteer is accompanied
by a woman, usually his wife, who plays the dholak, or drum and sings the ballad.
Pabuji Ki Phach: A 14th century folk hero, Pabuji is revered by the Bhopa
community. The phad, or scroll, which is about 10 metres long, highlights the
life and heroic deed of Pabuji. The Bhopas are invited by villagers to perform
in their areas during times of sickness and misfortune. The ballad is sung by
the Bhopa as he plays the Ravan-hattha and he is joined by his wife who holds
a lamp and illuminates the relevant portions at appropriate points.
Maand: Rajasthan’s most sophisticated style of folk music and has
come a long way from the time it was only sung in royal courts, in praise of
the Rajput rulers.
Professional singers still sing the haunting ballads of Moomal Mahendra, Dhola-Maru
and other legendary lovers and heroes.
List of singers and performers also includes the Mirasis and Jogis of Mewat,
Manganiyars and Langas, Kanjars, Banjaras and Dholies. Performances like the
Kuchamani Khayal, Maach, Tamasha, Rammat, Nautanki and Raasleela are no less
popular. The musical instruments of Rajasthan are simple but quite unusual.
Handcrafted by the musicians themselves they are rather unique and include instruments
like the Morchang, Naad, Sarangi, Kamayacha, Rawanhattha, Algoza, Khartal, Poongi,
Bankia and Da There are dozens of other instruments which are exclusive to Rajasthan
only.
It is a rather difficult task to list all the different types of music, dance
and entertainment that can be found in Rajasthan. The range is mindboggling.
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