The Manganiyar Magic

The three-month-long, 100 day free ticketed ‘Hyderabad Arts Festival –Season 4’ began on April 9 with ‘Sounds of the Desert – The Manganiar Magic of Music and Dance’ program held at Shilparamam Amphitheatre. Over five hundred audience gathered to watch the show.

The Rajasthani traditional folk musicians brought alive the earthy tunes of the desert

The Manganiyars’ classical folk music brought alive the earthy tunes of the deserts. It was like a magic that came alive when Kheta Khan’s mesmerizing khartaal met the dholak and rustic vocals presenting a treat to the soul, while the colourful folk dancers added life to the music.

The Manganiyars are traditional minstrels of the Thar Desert. They have been singing for their Rajput patrons for religious festivals, occasions such as weddings, childbirth, and other celebrations, since ages. Their performances are considered auspicious and no ritual is complete without their presence.

Manganiyars are Muslim musicians but they sing in praise of the Hindu Gods and Goddesses. They believe both these religions to be their eyes, and one cannot live without the other – a great example of the vast cultural diversity and secularism India has to offer.

Their traditional instruments are dholak and khartaal, which are percussion instruments. The khartaal is four pieces made from sheesham wood that is held as a pair in each hand. The sound, which is fairly high pitched, is the perfect partner for their other percussion instrument, the dholak. Khete Khan played the khartaal along side Manjoor Khan on the dholak.

On the Sarangi was Bhauru Khan, a member of another community called the Langas. This community is originally from Sindh and can be found in parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. They are related to the Manganiyars but have their own set of patrons. On the vocals were Khete Khan and Fakira Khan, who also played the Harmonium, and both are Manganiyars.

Suva Devi’s traditional Kaalbeliya dance was another highlight of the program. The Kaalbeliyas are yet another tribe of Rajasthan, and were originally nomads that caught snakes and traded in snake venom. They are also known as Saperas, and hence their dance movements bear a resemblance to cobras and other serpents.