Rajasthan is culturally rich and has extensive tradition in art and culture, which reflects the Indian way of life. The dance, music and art forms have been consciously cultivated and patronized by the erstwhile royal courts. An equally rich and varied folk culture from villages is both fascinating and mesmerizing. The music is of uncomplicated innocence and songs depict day-to-day relationships and chores, more often about the bringing of water. Rajasthan's cultural tapestry takes in simple folk to highly cultivated classical music and dance, in its own distinct style.
Music sung by women is mostly about water and the style is called panihari. It depicts daily chores and is centered on the well. In an arid area like Rajasthan, water is of immense significance. Some of the folk songs also talk about a chance encounter with a lover. Some are snipes at the incorrigible mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Here too the music has a strong religious flavor and is sung in dedication to various deities. Some religious songs are folk idioms of Saints like Surdas, Kabirdas, Meerabai and others. These songs are mostly heard in nightlong ceremonies.
Entertainers like the Langas, Manganniyars, Mirasis and Dholis keep music traditions alive. Their education in music began early and passed down the generations. The folk musicians are accomplished in the classical tradition. Songs normally begin with an alap, which sets the tune of the song and then the 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 ballad traditions of Rajasthan are indeed appealing. Here bards sing about folk heroes like Tejaji, Gogaji and Ramdeoji. They sing and narrate heroic tales of battles and even of legendary lovers and their tragedies. Distinctive traditions falling into this class are the 'Phad' and the puppetry.
The accompanying instruments are various– percussion, string and wind; and even items of common use such as bells, thaalis and earthen pots.