The haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a variety of delightfully primitive looking instruments. The stringed variety include the Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha, Morchang and Ektara.

Percussion instruments come in all shapes and sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny Damrus. The Daf and Chang are a big favourite of the Holi (the festival of colours) revellers.

Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavours such as Shehnai, Poongi, Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia.

Maharaja, formerly known as Musafir, is a group of musicians from the leading tribal castes with a rich heritage of folk music of Rajasthan, the desert state of India, and the land of warrior Kings. Outrageously elegant and beautiful, and majestic, these musicians, poets and shamans reflect their sumptuous surroundings in their music. They produce a music of ecstasy, a whirlwind of climaxes, punctuated by the gentle gesture of a breathtaking tune - a truly magical experience.

The ancestors of these musicians played an important role in spreading the teachings of the many sects of mystics, Sufi and Bhakti movements, through singing ballads and devotional songs. For the warriors, they were familiar figures on the battlefield where their praise of past heroes and their exploits through epic tales, plus their ridicule of the enemy would encourage bravery and boost morale. The Maharaja's music of pleasure and pain is highly communicative and captivating for worldwide audiences though it originates from the desert sands of India and IS the primitive (Jhangra) form of North Indian classical music. They have not only a rich and highly refined repertory of Folk, Devotional, Praise and Epic songs, music, dance and performance but also a dazzling cinematic appeal.

Simple villagers at heart, they live in the most remote area of the desert where the 21st century does not exist. The members of Maharaja are often described as the Gypsies of Rajasthan, which they are not, but the music they play today still represents what was played at the time of the great migration. In India they are called " Kalakar " (artistes) and the group is a mix of the best from three different castes - the Langas, Manganyars and the Kalbelias.

Some of the members of Maharaja belong to the Langa caste (Langa means " the song giver ") - a group of accomplished poets, singers, and musicians from Barmer district of Rajasthan. Langas are forever looking for the beauty of a tune. Playing and singing together, they echo each other to accentuate their common tune to a vertiginous transcending sound which is one of their magic practices through the music. They seem to have converted from Hinduism to Islam in the 17th century. Sufi influences prevented them from using percussion instruments.

However, the Langas are versatile players of the Sindhi Sarangi and the Algoza (double flute), which accompany and echo their formidable and magical voices. They perform at events like births, and weddings, exclusively for their patrons (yajman), who are cattle breeders, farmers, and landowners. The Langa musicians are regarded by their patrons as 'Kings'.

Langas are the guardians of the oral tradition of the family (king) they belong to. The major cast in Maharaja is represented by Langas, and their unique masters (Ustad) , certainly the best and unfortunately the last ones, who give Maharaja their unique refined sound.

Ustad Murad Khan Langa - Algoza

Ustad Noor Khan Langa - Sarangi . Vocals

Ustad Barkat Khan Langa - Sarangi . Vocals

Bachu Khan Langa - Vocals . Kartals

Another caste of fine musicians and singers, who mainly originate from Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. Manganiar means " one who begs " and indicates the low status of these superb artists. Converted to Islam at some time, they continue to sing for their Hindu " patrons ", the Rajputs and Megwals and are, like the Langas, the guardians of the oral tradition of the family they belong to.

At one time, they were musicians at the Rajput courts, accompanying their chiefs to war and providing them with entertainment before and after the battles and in the event of his death, they would keep performing at the ruler's " samadhi " day and night until the mourning was over. Despite their conversion to Islam, the Manganyars retain Hindus practices and often play in Hindus Temples.

Manganyar singers are spontaneous and uncontrollable with energetic rhythmic elements. Maharaja is proud to present Gewar Khan an incredibly creative and powerful percussionist of 22 from Jaisalmer, certainly the " Zakir Hussain " of the Dholak ! !

Gewar Khan Manganyar - Dholak

Zakab Khan Manganyar - Harmonium . Vocals

From the nomadic Jogi casts, who worship the Nag Deva (the Cobra), Kalbelias are devotees of Lord Shiva and followers of the Yoga system of philosophy. Men are traditional snake charmers. Women are dancers who perform a special symbolic dance, pretending to transform into a cobra whilst in a trance like state.

Sayari Sapera - Dance . Vocals

And from the Jaisalmer nightclubbing hails the one and only dancing Desert Drag Queen, performing a trance like whirling dance, cross dressing confusion emphasized by the warmest winks...An incredible performer ! Queen Harish Kumar

MAHARAJA is the new name for the Rajasthani group Musafir who achieved worldwide success and dazzled audiences from Tokyo to San Francisco.

There is opulence and diversity in Rajasthani music, which is rich, heroic, melancholic and joyful, and governs all aspects of Rajasthani lives. The voices, both male and female are full-throated, strong and powerful. The numerous songs sung by the women reflect the various feminine moods and strong family ties that govern their lives.

MUSICAL MOODS
Peepli?and ?ihalde?are songs imploring the beloved not to leave her or to return to her as soon as he can. There are songs about the family, comparing every number to the numerous ornaments worn by women.

The festivals of Gangaur and Teej celebrating marital bliss and the brief but splendid monsoon of Rajasthan call for special songs without which, no celebration is complete.

A plethora of fairs and festivals brings gaiety, a wild riot of colours and music into the dry lives of these desert people. Holi, the festival of colours, brings forth the joyous, lively rhythms of the ?hangs?and ?hamal?songs. Marriages, childbirth, the visit of the son-in-law, all call for song and music.

THE SINGING FRATERNITY
The wandering balladeers, like the ?hopas?who sing about the Marwar folk hero - Pabuji, travel from village to village with their ?had?painting and ?awanhathha?entertaining people with their ballad.

There are many singing communities in Rajasthan know as the ?holis? Also know by other names like ?irasis? ?hadhis? ?angas? ?anganiyars? ?albelias? ?ogis? ?argaras? ?amads? ?ayaks?or ?hotis?and the ?awaris? Today their music can be heard all over the state and is popular even in the national and international circuits.

NOMADIC MELODY
There is a great tradition of popular poetry, which is written under the rival banners of ?urra?and ?alangi? This is sung in groups in ?ikri? ?anhaiyya?or ?eet?(of the meenas), ?ele-ke-khyal?and ?am rasiya?of Eastern Rajasthan.

Group singing of classical ?andishes? called the ?angal?or ?aalbandi?is also unique to this region. ?hopas?are singing priests of various deities or warrior saints.

The famous sophisticated ?aand?of Rajasthan, true to its desert environment, speaks of love, separation, chivalry and rivalry. The Mahabharat and the Ramayan are popular themes for ballads.

Folk opera is another field, which has been made immensely popular by the professionals, often in association with amateurs. The ?aach?of Chittaurgarh area, ?amasha?of Jaipur and ?ammat?of Bikaner are famous.

The Stringed Instrument
The ?arangi?is the most important folk musical instrument and is found in various forms in Rajasthan.
The ?angas?use the ?indhi sarangi? It is made up of four main wires, seven ?haris?and seventeen ?arafs? The bowing of these instruments is a skilful exercise, often supported by the sound of the ?hungroos?or ankle bells that are tied to the bow to make the beat prominent.

Another remarkable bowed instrument is the ?amayacha?of ?anganiyars? with its big, circular resonator, giving out an impressive deep, booming sound.
The ?ktaara?is also a single string instrument, but it is mounted on the belly of a gourd attached to a body made of bamboo.
In western Rajasthan, a simple instrument called the ?orchang?is very popular, that resembles the Jewish harp.

Wind Instruments
These are the instruments that are played by blowing into them.
The ?lgoza? common in the Tonk-Ajmer areas, is such two-flutes played together.
The ?atara?of the ?angas?has one long flute and another flute to provide the drone.
The ?arh?or ?ad?produces music most evocative of the desert. It is a vertical with a single long hollow tube, into which the player whistles at the same time while gurgling a song in his throat or actually singing intermittently that has a haunting effect.

The Autophonic Instruments
The bells are the first of the autophonic instruments.
The ?hanti?or the ?hanta?are commonly used and the ?hungroo?(ankle bells) form an integral part of the music. There are the ?anjeeras? which are made of brass in the shape hemispherical metal cups stuck against each other.
The ?hanit?and the ?aala?are different kinds of ?anjeeras? A single metal plate, the ?hali? forms another variety of musical instruments. This is struck in various ways producing different kinds of tones and rhythms. Rhythmic music is also provided by the ?hartals? which are disc jinglers, struck against each other.

Percussion
Different kinds of drums form this group of musical instruments. They are of various kinds: the two-sided ones, the single sided drums, the shallow rimmed and single-faced. Single faced instruments are played singly or in pairs. The largest single conical drum is the ?am?of Bharatpur . The earthern pitcher, locally known as ?atka?and the ?hada?has its mouth covered with membrane.