Music
plays a very important role in the lives of the Rajasthani people. The
lyrics are read in a prosaic style. In the Rajasthani music, the
emphasis is more on poetry, rather than the melody. However, the poetry
gains meaning only when accompanied by Rajasthan folk music. The
traditional music of Rajasthan is designed for each and every event like
festivals, rituals, family affairs, seasons, etc. Rajasthani women mostly sing the panihari style, i.e. mainly about water. It centers on the routine mundane life of a women, of which a major part is spent around the wells. This is because of the scarcity of water in the desert area of Rajasthan. The other subjects covered by the songs of women include a chance encounter with a lover or bad mouthing mother-in-law or sister-in-law, etc.
Some folk songs of Rajasthan are dedicated to the various deities. They include the religious songs of Kabirdas, Meerabai, Surdas, etc. A number of communities in Rajasthan have followed the profession of singing for the entertainment of others. Among them, the prominent ones are the Dholis (both Hindus and Muslims), Dhadhis, Mirasis, Mangamars, Fedalis, Kalawats and Qawwals, Tangas, Patars and Kanchari (Hindu and Muslim prostitutes), Nats, Rawals and Bhawais.
The folk songs normally began with an alap, setting the tune of the song. After that, follows the recital of the couplet (dooba). Lending a variance to the tune are the taan, the pitch and the tibias. Another tradition of Rajasthan is the Ballad (bards singing heroic tales of the folk heroes and legendary lovers).
