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.
Music
sung by women is mostly about water and the style is called panihari. It depicts
daily chores and is cantered around the well. In arid area like Rajasthan water
is of immense significance. Some of the folk songs also talk about chance encounter
with their lover. Some even have snipes at the incorrigible mothers-in-law and
sisters-in-law.
Music here, also has strong religious flavour and is
sung in dedication to various deities. Some religious songs are folk idioms of
Saints, Surdas, Kabirdas, Meerabai and others. These songs are mostly heard in
nightlong soirées.
Music traditions are kept alive by entertainer
like the Langas, Manganniyars, Mirasis and Dholis. The education in music of these
groups began early and passed down from generation to generation. The folk musicians
are apt in classical tradition. Songs normally began with an alap, which set the
tune of the song and then recital of the couplet that is called the dooba. The
songs also have the taan, the pitch and the tibias -the triplet, which lends variance
to the tune.
Ballad traditions of Rajasthan are also of great attention.
Here bards sing heroic tales of folk heroes like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji.
They sing and narrate heroic tales of battles and even of legendary lovers and
their tragedies. To distinctive category in this tradition are the 'Phad' and
the puppetry.
The accompanying instruments are of various varieties
to repercussion, string and wind and even common use utilities like bells, thali
(metal dishes) and earthen pots.
Dance
The Thar Desert of Rajasthan comes alive when its dancers take the center stage.
Rajasthan has great variety of dances, which are simple expressions of celebration
and festivity. The dancers, the dances and costumes have made Thar the
most
colorful desert in the world. Each region adding its own form of dance styles
and performers. There are dances that follows a lineage of age old traditions,
adhere to religious significance, display their daring attitude as well as complimenting
various fairs and festivals.
Ghoomar, a community dance for women performed
on auspicious occasions. Gair Ghoomar, Raika, Jhoria and Gauri are particularly
of Bhil tribe. Gair is performed on Holi but only by the men folk. Chari dance,
with pots on the head and a lighted lamp, is popularly performed on marriage occasions
or on the birth of a male child. Kalbelia dance is of the kalbelia tribe, the
snake charmers. With numerous pots on the head, women excel the balancing act
in the Matka-bhawai. Terah taali, is a ritual for Baba Ramdev, a dance with thirteen
manjiras. Other dances are Kachhi-Ghodi, Kathputli (the puppet dance), Fire dance,
drum dance and various others pertaining to the particular tribes. Kathhak, a
popular dance form being imported from Uttar Pradesh have been revived by the
rajputana courts, with a style and theme of its own.
" Rajasthan Music & Dances Reservation
Form " 
Sanctuaries