Melody of the Thar: Into Manganiar Musical Traditions

The Thar Desert, one of the largest arid regions in the world, extends its barren beauty across the Indian subcontinent, which stretches from the northwestern regions of India into Pakistan. The Thar’s sandy beige dunes and extreme conditions deceptively hide the vibrancy of its inhabitants. These inhabitants have found a way of life that can flourish only in the Great Indian Desert—a region of rolling sand hills. 

Among the inhabitants, we can find those who are known as Manganiar, a community with a cultural heritage and musical traditions that have sustained them for centuries. One of the most captivating musical traditions in the world is their blend of folk, classical, devotional, and Sufi music – a dynamic, evocative form of storytelling passed down through generations.

The Manganiars is a community of Muslim musicians predominantly found in Rajasthan, one of the Indian states, where many areas are underdeveloped and lack the touch of modern sensibility. Moreover, the manganiars continue to uphold and take pride in ancient traditions passed down through generations.

In this article, we will delve into the history, significance, and unique characteristics of Manganiar music and their "melody of the Thar" to explore its enduring legacy and its role in the rich cultural tapestry of India.  

(This article is exclusively on the Manganiar community and their music, however, there is another muslim community, The Langha, in Rajasthan. Both sing in the same dialect, but their style and repertoires differ, shaped by the tastes of their patrons.) 

The Origins of the Manganiar Community

The Manganiars are believed to have descended from a combination of native Rajputs and Muslim artisans who arrived in Rajasthan from Central Asia during the Mughal period. The Manganiar has always been associated with music, and its members often performed for various Rajput kings and wealthy patrons, traditionally known as  ‘Jajman,’ across Rajasthan. Their patronage allowed Manganiar musicians to sharpen and hone their craft, elevating the cultural diversity of Rajasthan.

In Rajasthan, where life is both physically and spiritually demanding, music is bound to become a means of emotional, spiritual, and cultural expression. Unsurprisingly, the roots of Manganiar traditions can be traced to the Sufi mysticism, with influences from Persian and Afghan musical practices brought by the Mughal Empire. The cultural exchange between the indigenous Rajput music and these new influences gave rise to such a unique fusion of musical styles, which is now the bedrock of Manganiar music.

The term “Manganiar” carries the meaning of a beggar adorned with a garland. The word mangan  means "to beg", and haar means "a garland of flowers." As the legend says, “The daughter of prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Bibi Fatema, offered a necklace (haar) to a Mirasi named Mangan. From this time onwards, they were called the 'Manganhar and the community is now known as Manganiyar.”

Music in Manganiar Society

 Music is central to the lives of the Manganiar community. Music is passed on from generation to generation orally and aurally. It is a hereditary aspect of not only their culture but also their identity. From birth to death, the major events of their lives must involve music, which adds an emotional layer to the proceedings. Traditionally, the Manganiars, while performing at celebrations such as weddings and religious events, utilize their songs as vehicles for storytelling.

The Manganiar children have an inherent sense of melodies and beats regardless of their ages, which are further developed through informal training by their families predominantly. Every Manganiar learns from their parents or grandparents, and every household is a gymnasium for musical training. A child does train under a Guru to become a professional musician, but their first introduction to music starts through their mother's lullaby. 

Traditionally, women are not allowed to perform in front of anyone who is not her family. So, the men are the performers in their community. But, when it comes to the expertise and proficiency, the women have in their musical heritage is undoubtedly on par with the men. And this is evident from the testimonies of famous Manganiar musicians who accredited their mother for their training and inspiration in their early years.

The Structure and Themes 

Mangainars pass on their songs and singing to their sons, brothers, and nephews by inheritance in their own community.  However, they themselves do not even know when the new generation will absorb all the elements of singing without actively immersing themselves in the process of learning. Thus, the Manganiar community seems to be less dependent on the social structure and more contributing to it. 

The musicians also play the role of traditional genealogists for their jajmans. This record-keeping through songs is entirely an oral tradition. The “Shubhraj,” which is a song that keeps the genealogical record, sung by the Manganiar, makes references to the whole of the patrons’ lineage and praises their glorious past and ends with prayers for their well-being in the future. Along with the Subhraj, they also sing the Bakhaan, which is essentially in praise of the jajman and his family. 

These musician communities have a huge repertoire of songs on lifecycle, seasons, daily living, epics, ballads, folklores, gods and goddesses, Pirs and Fakirs, sufiyana kalams, bhajans, and qawwalis. Some of the most important themes are different phases of life such as birth, youth, marriage, etc, which are celebrated by the Jajmans through music of the Manganiar. Also, Monsoons in the desert are always welcomed.  Manganiar people do this through music and romantic songs. 

Ragas and Instruments

Manganiar songs are mostly based on ragas–melodic frameworks for improvisation in Indian classical music. Specific ragas are associated with different times of the day. Theoretically, songs of a particular raga must begin with a couplet or duha, which in Rajasthani means the introductory part of the song, which is non-metered but based on the same raga as the song.

The key instruments played by the Manganiyars are exclusively made by local artists, using materials such as animal skin and bones, different types of wood, and grass. “Kamaicha” is a 17-string bowed instrument made of mango wood. The rounded resonator is covered with goat skin. “Khartaal” is a kind of castanet which is played by hands (Khar) to keep rhythms (taal). Hence the name Khartaal. “Dholak” is a hand drum similar in timbre to a bongo. A dholak may have traditional lacing or turnbuckle tuning.

The Manganiar Musical Tradition on the Modern Stage

Despite the persistence of their rich musical heritage, the Manganiar community couldn't remain untouched by the forces of modernization. The global media has helped gain the traditional Manganiar performances international attention, especially after the 2000s. Artists from the Manganiar community have collaborated with musicians from around the world. In these collaborations, the fusion of their folk traditions with contemporary music genres like pop, jazz ,and electronic music has brought Manganiar music global recognition.

Being recognized is not an issue by itself, if this centuries old tradition does not lose its authenticity in the pursuit of materialistic achievements by the younger generations. In the past few decades, it has been proved that Manganiar music can hold its candle on the global stage as effortlessly as it does on its home turf (For proof, take a look at 'Manganiyar Seduction' at the 2011 Melbourne Festival). All we need is dedicated and devoted generations who are comfortable and proud of who they are and where they come from and are willing to move forward with the burden of an ancient tradition on their shoulders.

Epilogue

The music of the Manganiar community is the pulse of the Thar Desert itself. Their cultural landscape and its rich and complex art forms bridge the historical, religious, and artistic traditions of what used to be, what is, and what will be. Through their songs, the Manganiars offer a peek into the soul of Rajasthan and retell the chronicles of life in the desert. Their music is a timeless melody reverberating the Great Indian Desert Thar.