Rajasthani Folk Song

The natural expressions of the public are errupted in the form of emotions including joy, love,
compassion and sorrow can be called a folk song. In these songs, attention is given more on
emotions than on language. Their themes are historical, religious, mythological, marriage related,
love-separation related etc.

Major Folk Songs of Rajasthan

1. Kurza — Jodhpur region; on rainy season
— Separation song; wife's message to husband
— It is sung in Mand singing style.
2. Kaga — Separation song
3. Pipli — Separation song, Shekhawati and Marwar region.
— On teej and rainy season.
4. Papeyo — Symbol of the ideal of conjugal love.
5. Moomal — Shringar Geet; Jaisalmer region.
— Nakhashik (नखिशख) has been described.
6. Kesariya Balam — Marwar region.
— Separation and Rajwadi songs; by women
— It is sung in Mand singing style.
7. Ratan Rano — Meeting song
8. Supana — Separation song; by wife
9. Ghooghri — It is sung in Mand singing style on the birth anniversary by
women.
10. Kevda — Separation song; sung by the beloved before Kevda tree.
11. Ghudla — Collective folk song sung by girls on Shitalashtami in Jodhpur
region.
12. Indoni and Panihari — Songs sung by Kalbelia women while fetching water.
13. Kangsio — Shringarik song sung in western Rajasthan.
14. Ghoomar — Song sung on Gangaur.
15. Gorband — It is specially sung in Marwar and Shekhawati region.
16. Teej — Song sung by women in Dhundhar and Marwar region in
Shravan.
17. Binjara — A song sung by the women in the Ratijaga held in the desert
region.
— Binjare singing this - Questions and answers to Binjari , the
queues singing it sitting on camels Let's cross long floors.
18. Jhorawa — In Jaisalmer region, songs are sung in separation from
husband when he goes abroad.
19. Languria — A song sung by the devotees of Kailadevi at the fair in Karauli.
20. Panchida — Song sung on the occasion of fair in Hadauti and Dhundhar
area.
21. Dhola maru — Famous song of Sirohi region which is based on the love story
of Dhola- Marwan.
— Song of love and adornment.
22. Hichaki — Song sung by women in Alwar-Mewat region.
23. Rasiya — Song sung in devotion to Krishna in Bharatpur-Dhaulpur
region.
24. Bichhudo — A song sung in the Hadauti region in which a dying wife ask
her husband to get second marriage.
25. Chirmi — Malwa region. Description of the mood of the bride at the
time of waiting for her brother or father .
26. Moonvatiya — Separation song of Mewar region. Message from a Bhilni
woman to her husband.
27. Hamsido — Mewar region; Duet song by Bhils.
28. Patelya — A song sung by tribals in the mountainous region.
29. Lalar Bichhiya — A song sung in the mountainous region.
30. Badhaava — An auspicious song sung by women on auspicious occasions.
31. Mahera (Bhat) — A song sung by women on marriage.
32. Kukadi — It is sung by women at the end of Ratijaga.
33. Ghodi — A song sung by women at the time of bridegroom's wedding
at the ceremony of horse riding.
34. Jalaa — By the women of the bride's side in the context of women
visiting the wedding procession.
35. Kajaliyo — At the time of Nikasi of marriage; by women on the ritual of
applying kajal in the eyes by Bhojai.
36. Kaman — This song is sung by women on marriage to protect the
groom from witchcraft.
37. Olyun — A song sung in someone's memory. Like on daughter's
farewell.
38. Jachhcha/ Hollar — A song sung on the birth anniversary of a son.
39. Rati Jaga — Song to be sung in Ratri Jagran when wishes are fulfilled.
40. Bana-bani — Song sung by women on marriage.
41. Pavana — A song sung by women on the arrival of a new son-in-law at
his in-laws house.
42. Sithane — Song sung by women on marriage.
— Songs sung in happiness and laughter.
43. Harjas — A song sung by women on auspicious occasions.
— Saguna devotional folk song describing the pastimes of both
Rama and Krishna.
44. Lavani — A song sung by the hero to call the heroine.
45. Moria — Description of the plight of such a girl, whose relationship is
fixed but marriage is delayed.
46. Jero — In this song, the village bride requests her husband not to
sow cumin seeds.
47. Halaria — A song sung on the birth of a child in Jaisalmer.
48. Hindo and — A graceful song sung by women in Shravan during swinging.
Hindolya
 Musicians of Rajasthan

1. Kalavant- Skilled in singing and playing, this caste is related to Dagar Gharana.
2. Qawwal- The people of this caste earn their living by singing Qawwalis at the Dargah.
3. Dhadi - This caste is related to western Rajasthan and this caste sings songs of its hosts.
4. Mirasi- This caste related to Muslim religion is expert in playing Sarangi. Their area is Marwar.
5. Manganiyar - This caste belongs to western Rajasthan and it is known for Manganiyar singing.
6. Bhat- Writing and telling the genealogies of their hosts is their main occupation.
7. Dom (Doom) - This caste is called the sub-dynasty of the Bhats.
8. Dholi- This caste is called the sub-dynasty of Bhats.
9. Rana – They are called Rana because of hitting the drum in the battlefield. Main areas are Jaipur
and Shekhawati.
10. Langa - In western Rajasthan, Langa is a caste related to singing.
11. Bhawai - A caste proficient in Bhawai dance.
12. Rawal - A caste of Marwar.
13. Bhagatana - prostitutes who dance and sing.
14. Patur - The women who dance and sing are called Patur and the men are called Jagri.
15. Kamad - The caste of Jaisalmer who are proficient in Terhtali dance.
16. Bhopa - belong to their respective deities. Like Tejaji's Bhopa
17. Sargada - A caste skilled in Kachhi Ghodi dance.
18. Kangujari - A caste belonging to Marwar which mainly sings devotional songs of Radha-Krishna.
19. Kanjar-Sansi - tribes skilled in singing and dancing.
20. Jogi - Follower of the Nath sect.
21. Bairagi - They are expert in Rasdhari style.
22. Kalbelia - Snake charmer caste, whose women are expert in Kalbelia dance.

Folk singing styles of Rajasthan

Special genres of folk singing which are based on ragas and ragas like classical music.

1. Mand singing:
• Shringar Ras raag, sung in Mand region (Jaisalmer).
• Folk style of classical singing.
• Famous of Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
• Late Gawri Devi (Bikaner), late Alla Zillai Bai (Bikaner), Gavari Devi (Bikaner), Mangi Bai
(Udaipur) , Banno Begum (Jaipur) are famous artist.

2. Manganiyar singing:
• Manganiyar caste people sing on auspicious occasions. Folk singing style in which there are
mainly 6 ragas and 36 raganis.
• Musical instruments - Kamayacha and Khadtal.
 • It is prevalent in desert districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
• Sakar Khan, Saddiq Khan (Khadtal), Ghafoor Khan, Rukma Devi Manganiyar were famous
artists.

3. Langa singing:
• Like Manganiyar, sung by the people of Langa caste on auspicious occasions in the house of
their hosts. Known folk singing style.
• Musical instruments - Kamayacha and Sarangi.
• Prevailing in desert districts like Barmer, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
• Phuse Khan, Mahardin Khan, Alladin Langa, Karim Khan Langa were famous artists.

4. Rhythmic Singing:
• The classical tradition of folk singing in which the verses of the ancient poets related to the
melody. It is sung collectively.
• the eastern zone like - Bharatpur, Dhaulpur, Sawai Madhopur.

famous musician:

1. Sawai Pratap Singh -

• Jaipur ruler who was a great scholar of painting and music. He used to compose under the
name Braj Nidhi. He composed Radha Govind Sangeet Saar.
• Gandharva Baisi - A group of 22 famous musicians and scholars in the court.
2. Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt -
• Grammy Awardee, Rajasthan Ratna Awardee and Famous Sitar Player. He created the raga
'Gorimma'.
• Adding 14 strings to the western guitar gave it the form of 'Mohan Veena' which is a
combination of Veena , Sarod and Sitar.

3. Zaheeruddin and Fayazuddin

• Artists belonging to the Dagar Gharana who innovated Dhrupad by establishing the tradition
of Jugalbandi in Dhrupad Format.

Other facts related to music-

1. Ramprakash Theater (the first Parsi theater of the state) - in 1878 AD by Jaipur ruler Ram Singh
II.
2. Bhavani Natya Shala (Jhalawar) - Built by Bhawani Singh in 1921 AD.
3. Kanhaiya Lal Panwar - Father of Rajasthani Dramas.
4. Saddiq Khan Manganiyar Folk Art and Research Council (Lokrang) - in 2002 AD in Jaipur
5. Ganga Theater - established by Bikaner ruler Ganga Singh.
6. Bikaner's band master William James wrote a book titled Indian Music with an explanation in
'Roman-Anglo' language of Rajasthani folk songs and their tunes in western style.