The Rajasthani folk music has a long tradition and it is a mixture of different flavors. There are folk songs dedicated to religious customs, festivals, fairs and deities. There are popular folk songs or folk idioms by saints like Kabirdas, Surdas and Meerabai. Let us study the music styles in detail:Maand: This is the most popular Rajasthani folk music that had developed in the royal courts and the local musicians play it. Traditional instruments are played by the musicians and the folk singers sing the glory and praise of the Rajput rulers like like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji.
Panihari: This folk music is sung by women and the theme of most of these songs are based on the scarcity of water and their daily chores of the village women near the village well. Some of these panihari folk songs are based on chance encounters with lovers and some are based on the relations in between mother-in-laws and daughter-in-laws.
Bhajans: This music combines both royal heritage and divinity of Lord Krishna in a perfect blend, since the various Krishna bhajans have been penned down by Mirabai, herself. These immensely popular songs have formed a new school of music and have reached to every Krishna lovers of the world.
The folk arts and music traditions of Rajasthan, North India are kept alive by local entertainers such as the Dholis, Langas, Mirasis and Manganniyars. 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. 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. Thus, the typical musical instruments played in the Rajasthani music are as follows:
Shehnai: Shehnai is widely played in Rajasthan, at the time of marriages and festivals. It consist of a single piece wooden tube with a number of holes, and at the top it has a metal mouthpiece, through which a it can be played.Morchang: Morchang is a wrought iron instrument, like the Jews harp, which produces twanging sounds. It is the most favourite instrument for Langa community of Rajasthan. This instrument produces a variety of notes and weaving a large range of rhythmic patterns.
Khartal: Khartal is a devotional instrument, which is used at the time of religious singing. It consists of a pair of flat rectangular wooden clappers, having thin brass jingles attached to it. It is played by attaching a ringed into a thumb, whereas the other parts are held by the remaining four fingers, which, when clapped against each other, produce a enchanting sound.
Chang: This instrument is used as a rhythmic accompaniment to the erotic songs and dances on the colourful occasion of Holi festival. It has sheep skin pasted on a large circular or octagonal wooden frame, which is balanced on the right shoulder. It is played with the help of both the hands, left striking the rim and right the central part.
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