Music & Dance
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.
Different Forms
of Rajasthan Dance....
Music & Dance, Rajasthan Tourism
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