Folk Music Instruments of Rajasthan

Rajasthan's folk instrument corpus spans all four Hornbostel-Sachs categories — chordophones (string), aerophones (wind), membranophones (percussion-skin), and idiophones (percussion-solid). Over 60 distinct folk instruments have been documented across the state.

Chordophones (— String Instruments)

Ravanhatha is the oldest documented bowed string instrument in the Indian subcontinent, with archaeological and textual references suggesting use over 5,000 years ago. The instrument consists of a coconut shell resonator covered with goatskin, a bamboo neck, two main playing strings (one of steel wire, one of horsehair), and several sympathetic strings. The bow is made of bamboo strung with horsehair.

It is the exclusive instrument of the Bhopa community of eastern and southern Rajasthan, specifically used to accompany the Pabuji ki Phad recitation (see Section 5). The 2021 RPSC Mains question — "What is Ravanhatha?" — is the only direct PYQ reference for this topic and confirms the instrument as an examination priority.

Kamayacha is a large, heavy spike lute with 12 strings (3 main playing strings and 9 sympathetic/drone strings), played with a horse-hair bow. The resonator is a hollowed mango or jackfruit wood bowl covered with stretched leather. Kamayacha is the exclusive instrument of the Manganiar community of Barmer and Jaisalmer districts.

Its sound is deep, resonant, and closer to a cello than a violin. Master player Sakar Khan Manganiar received the Padma Shri in 2012 and is credited with introducing Kamayacha to international concert stages in the 1990s. As of 2024-25, fewer than 15 Kamayacha masters remain — the instrument is on the UNESCO Endangered Instruments watch list.

Sarangi in its Rajasthani folk form differs from the Hindustani classical Sarangi in having 3 main strings and 15–17 sympathetic strings. It is played by multiple communities:

• Langas — who call their variant Sindhi Sarangi
• Jogis — who use a smaller Gujari Sarangi
• Bhats — court-praise singers

The Sindhi Sarangi produces a piercing, nasal tone suited to desert acoustics and open-air performance.

Jantar is a 3-stringed instrument specific to the Nayak-Bhopa community who perform the Devnarayan epic. Structurally similar to Ravanhatha but larger, the Jantar accompanies the Phad scroll recitation of Devnarayan. The 2013 UNESCO inscription of the Devnarayan Bhopa-Phad tradition specifically cited the Jantar as an irreplaceable element of the tradition.

Ektara — a single-stringed plucked instrument in a gourd resonator — is used by Nath-Jogis and wandering mendicant performers. It features in Sant poetry recitation (Kabir, Meera, Dadu) and is acoustically the simplest instrument in Rajasthan's folk repertoire.

Aerophones (— Wind Instruments)

Algoza is a pair of parallel bamboo flutes played simultaneously using circular breathing — one flute carries the melody, the other provides a continuous drone. The instrument is found across Rajasthan's Bhil belt (Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh) and among Meghwal and Jogi communities.

No instrument in Rajasthan's folk music requires greater technical skill: the player must breathe in through the nose while exhaling through the mouth to maintain continuous sound. Master players include Hameed Khan of Barmer and Lakha Khan of the Langha tradition.

Bankia is a curved brass trumpet, 45–60 cm long, played in processions, weddings, and festivals by the Dholi community. It produces a single, penetrating tone and traditionally announced arrivals of royalty or ceremonial events.

Shehnai in Rajasthan is associated with temple music, particularly at:

• Brahma temple (Pushkar)
• Eklingji temple (Udaipur)
• Various fort gate ceremonies

The Rajasthani Shehnai player traditionally belonged to the Dholia community.

Tarpi — a curved buffalo-horn wind instrument — is specific to the Garasia tribal community (Sirohi and Udaipur districts) and is integral to their ritual music at the Govindgiri devotional gatherings.

Membranophones and Idiophones

Dhol-Dholak: The double-headed barrel drum Dhol (large, 60–80 cm) is used for outdoor community festivals; Dholak (smaller, 40–50 cm) for indoor events and women's music. Both are cross-community instruments with no caste restriction.

Nagara: Large kettledrum pair played with padded sticks; historically used in royal durbars and war; now used in temple and festival processions. The Nagarkhana (drumming gallery) at Mehrangarh Fort, Jodhpur is the most documented royal Nagara installation in Rajasthan.

Morchang: Iron or bronze jaw harp, 8–15 cm long; the player holds it between the teeth, plucks the vibrating tongue with a finger, and modifies tone by changing mouth shape and breath. Rajasthan produces more Morchang performers and manufacturers than any other Indian state. The Barmer Morchang Utsav, held annually since 2017, draws musicians from 12 countries and has generated global interest in the instrument.

Kartaal: Paired wooden clappers used by the Nimbark, Dadu Panthi, and Ramdev devotional singers as a rhythmic base. The Kartaal performance at Runicha Mela (Ramdevra, Jaisalmer) — attended by 5–6 lakh pilgrims annually — is the largest Kartaal-based devotional gathering in India.

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