Aspirant Academy

History

Folk Music Genres and Traditions

Folk Music, Folk Dances, Folk Stories, Folk Lores

Paper I · Unit 1 Section 4 of 15 0 PYQs 48 min
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Folk Music Genres and Traditions

Maand

Maand is Rajasthan's distinctive semi-classical folk raga — a borderline genre that uses the melodic framework of Hindustani classical music but draws its themes, lyrics, and emotional register from Rajasthani folk poetry. Maand is associated primarily with Jaipur and Bikaner and is performed by trained women vocalists from the Maand gayika tradition.

Maand is characterised by:

  • Use of Raga Bhairavi base with ornamental turns typical of Rajasthani melodic idiom
  • Themes drawn from viraha (separation), shringar (romantic longing), and seasonal cycles
  • Free-rhythm sections (alap-style) alternating with composed verse (bandish)

The most celebrated Maand composition is "Kesariya Balam, aao ni padharo mhare des" — a welcome-to-Rajasthan song that functions as the state's cultural signature. Other iconic Maand songs include "Panihari" (the water-carrier's lament) and "Ramdevji Thalawa" (devotional).

Distinguished Maand artists and their recognition:

  • Gavri Devi (Bikaner): Padma Shri 1982; considered the Maand tradition's 20th-century anchor
  • Alla Jilai Bai (Bikaner): Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 1961; credited with first recorded Maand performance
  • Seema Misra (Udaipur): Contemporary Maand revival artist; collaborated with international ensembles

Langha and Manganiar Traditions

The Langha and Manganiar communities represent the most internationally renowned folk music traditions of Rajasthan, based in the Thar Desert belt of Barmer, Jaisalmer, and Bikaner.

Langha community: Muslim hereditary musicians, traditionally patronised by Sindhi-Muslim pastoral communities. Langas number approximately 300–400 active families in Barmer district. Their instruments and repertoire:

  • Instruments: Sindhi Sarangi, Khartal (wooden clappers), and Surando (a small bowed instrument)
  • Repertoire: Sohar (birth songs), Sehra (marriage songs), Marsiya (laments), and seasonal agricultural-cycle songs

Manganiar community: Also Muslim, patronised historically by Hindu Rajput and Bishnoi landowners in a cross-religious patronage relationship unique in India. Manganiar families number approximately 500–600 in Barmer and Jaisalmer districts. Their instruments and style:

  • Instruments: Kamayacha, Dholak, Khartal, and Morchang
  • Vocal style: Heavy ornamentation (gamak) and a pentatonic-scale melodic base
  • Repertoire: Hindu devotional songs (Bhajans for Ramdevji), Rajput court praise songs (Phag, Holi), and seasonal folk songs

Both communities gained international exposure through the Rajasthan International Folk Festival (RIFF) held annually at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur since 2007. The festival brings 20,000–25,000 international tourists and has resulted in recording contracts, international tours, and recognition for formerly obscure Manganiar and Langha musicians.

Notable artists:

  • Mame Khan (Manganiar, Jaisalmer): Appeared in Coke Studio and international concerts; Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2019
  • Lakha Khan (Langha, Barmer): Padma Shri 2012; master of Sindhi Sarangi; 50+ international tours
  • Ghewar Khan (Manganiar): Sangeet Natak Akademi Award; credited with first Manganiar recording for BBC World Service

Pabuji ki Phad

Pabuji ki Phad is a unique performance genre combining oral epic poetry with scroll painting. The Phad is a large cloth scroll (typically 15–30 feet long) painted with scenes from Pabuji's life by artists of the Joshi community (Bhilwara).

The performance format involves:

  • Bhopa (male singer-priest) and Bhopi (female lamp-holder) perform through the night beside the unrolled Phad
  • Bhopi illuminates each painted scene with an oil lamp as the Bhopa narrates that episode
  • The musical instrument used is the Ravanhatha

The narrative covers Pabuji's martial exploits, his fulfillment of a vow to protect Deval's camels, and his death in battle — all elements establishing him as a protector deity. The performance tradition has been maintained in eastern Rajasthan (Ajmer, Bhilwara, Nagaur, Jodhpur regions) for at least 700 years.

Shreerupa Joshi and her family (Bhilwara) are the last hereditary Phad painters receiving national recognition; they received the UNESCO Award of Excellence for Handicrafts in 2010.