Folk Instruments - Connect Civils

Folk Instruments are an essential component of Rajasthan Art & Culture, reflecting the musical traditions and artistic creativity of the region. These instruments are commonly used in folk songs, dances, and cultural performances during festivals and social occasions. Folk instruments such as Ravanhatta, Algoza, Bhapang, and Dholak add unique rhythm and melody to the vibrant musical heritage of Rajasthan.

String Music Instruments

In this category of instruments, sound is produced by the vibration of the strings. Vibrations are produced by plucking, strumming, or rubbing the strings with a bow , which determines the pitch and duration of the note based on the length and tightness of the string.

Gaj – a bow made from horse tail hair
Mizrab – worn by the player to protect his fingers from cut

Music Instruments	Key Points
Sarangi	Best among string instruments 27 strings, Rohida/Teak wood, played with a bow Famous players – Ramnarayan (Udaipur), Sultan Khan (Sikar) , Ustad Sultan Khan (the lovable sultan of the sarangi) Types – Dhani Sarangi – (Played by the Jogi who narrates the story of Nihalde) Gujarati Sarangi – ( 7 strings, by the ‘ Langa ‘ community) Jogiya Sarangi – (4 strings, used by the Bhartrihari Jogis of Alwar-Bharatpur along with Bhartrihari) Herbal Sarangi/Cupped Sarangi (used by the Manganiyars of Jaisalmer district) Sindhi Sarangi (Western Rajasthan-Langa community)
kamyacha	Materials : Parchment, gut, steel, metal, rosewood, horsehair like mandolin; 16/27 strings Manganiyar (Jaisalmer-Barmer); 2020 postage stamp ; Famous – Padmashree Kamal Saker Khan (Hamira, Jaisalmer)
Ravana Hattha	Rajasthan’s oldest, earliest form of violin A long bamboo stem to which a half coconut shell covered with goatskin is attached 9 wire ; use of gauze Use : dungji and jawaharji bhopas, Pabuji phad, Ramdev ji phad, bhopa- bhopi and Kanjar community
Gujri	Kamyacha-like; 5 strings ; Western Rajasthan
Jantar	Material : Wood, steel, horsehair 2 tumba + bamboo; 5/6 strings ; A stick-like wooden structure with two twigs attached to it, with twelve protruding wooden bars in the centre It is hung around the neck and played while standing. The story of the rebels during the Phad Vachan of Devnarayan ji by the Bhopas . Early forms of the veena
Chikara	Material : Parchment, wood, steel Cup-shaped head; 3 strings Its bowed resonator, fingerboard and pegs are made of a single piece of wood. Area – Garasiya (Sirohi), Meo (Alwar)
Ektara	Material : Bamboo, Parchment, Steel Associated with Narada; 1 string ; instrument in one hand, karatar in the other. The bamboo is inserted through the center of the gourd, the top of the gourd is cut and covered with leather
Rabab/Rawaz	Like a sarangi but with 12 strings musical instrument of the Bhat or Rawal caste Played with nails or a plectrum (not a bow) Popular in Alwar, Tonk, Mewar region
Surinda	This is a smaller version of the Sarangi. Strings – 5-13 from a single piece of wood (rohida or tun) Don’t play it while singing Logo of Rajasthan Sangeet
Veena/Tandura/Chautara/Nishan	Material : Wood, Steel Sitar and Tanpura shaped 4 strings ; Ramdevji’s favourite instrument. Tanpura Material: Wood, Brass Four strings (three steel + one brass)
Bhapang	It is also called the “talking drum” . 1 string; Damarun-like, played by pressing it in the armpit; Mewat ; Mewati Jogi; Artist – Zahoor Khan Mewati, Umar Farooq Mewati (Alwar)
Apang	Material : Wood, Metal, Parchment, Gourd Shell, Leather, Goat Skin, Bamboo, Metal Invention – Saint Ismail Nath Jogi

Other string instruments – Surmandal (2 strings), Do Tara (2 strings), Sarod (tun wood + ivory + coconut shell), Swarmandal

Wind Instruments

Wind instruments are instruments that produce sound by blowing (using air). They have no strings or membranes—notes are produced simply by vibrating air in a hollow tube

Music Instruments	Key Points
Algoja	State instrument of Rajasthan Material : Bamboo a pair of two bamboo flutes of equal size Holes for 5 fingers on each and a narrow mouthpiece. The player blows both of them together by keeping them in his mouth. Uses: Mev community of Alwar, Kalbelia, Bhils; Story of Tejaji, Dhola-Maru Artist – Ramnath Choudhary (Jaipur) plays with his nose
Shehnai / Nafiri / Sundari	Material – Rohida/Sheesham, Metal The best among wind instruments 8 holes, on auspicious occasions Artists – Bismillah Khan , Chand Mohammad Khan (Jaipur) Toto – a local version of the Shehnai, played by Jogi Bhils and Dholis
Karna/Karn	Material: Brass Rajasthan’s longest A long brass trumpet, made in two parts. Funnel-shaped with a wide opening and a narrow opening with a narrow mouth. Used in battlefields and royal courts
Morchang	the smallest of the wind instruments Also called “ Jew’s Harp” played between the lips Langa, by Manganiyar Note: It is considered a percussion instrument by the Ministry of Culture.
Bhungal / Rannbheri	Material : Bronze It is called as battle cry because it is played during war. Bhavai caste; Bhavai dance
Satara	Flute, Algoja and Shehnai medley; Barmer-Jaisalmer Shepherds and Muslim artists
Nadd	A tube made from Kangor wood. It has four holes and is blown from the top. Famous Artist – Karna Bhil
Mashak	Material : Goat skin, wax Scottish bagpipe-like Mashkbin – made of goat skin Nali – a tube made of bamboo, five finger holes, music produced when blown Mewat – By Bheruji Bhopas
Naagphani	Material : Bronze/Brass Metal The bronze spiral tube, the bell, is shaped like the hood of a snake, with a metal tongue attached to it
Flute	Material : Wood Other names – Murali / Murala / Harnai / Shankh / Toto / Bargu long wooden cylindrical tube, open at the other end with six holes Starring: Hariprasad Chaurasia , Pannalal Ghosh
Pelly	Material – Bamboo This is a small flute Ratvai is sung in a high pitch to its music
Pungi/been	Material: Gourd, Bamboo, Wax a round gourd with a long neck Kalbelia / snake charmers to catch snakes Pungi – 2 tubes, Been – 1 tube
Bankiya	Material: Bronze a bronze trumpet, a larger version of a begul, made in two parts a saucer-shaped bell with a trumpet-like tube and a connected mouthpiece Used in processions, religious and social functions
Bargu	Material: Bronze A bronze trumpet made in two parts Cup-shaped bell, S-shaped tube with integrated mouthpiece Use by the ‘ Sargara ‘ community
Pavri/Tarfa/Tarpi	Material: Wood, dried gourd, cow horn A larger version of the pungi Six holes on the bottom, a beak-like structure on the top The sound produced resembles Indian as well as European musical tones. by Kathodi caste
Harmonium	Material: Wood, Metal, Brass, Fabric Portable wooden box, originating in West Bengal There are 10 holes that allow air to pass through the bellows Main Artists – Mahmud Dholpuri , Ustad Alladiya Khan (Jaipur Gharana)
Trumpet	Material: Bronze long bronze trumpet Two parts – funnel mouth + oblong mouth

Other wind instruments – Pavri (made of cow horn + wood + dried gourd), Pavo (a double flute made of bamboo), Singi, Ransingha

Percussion instrument

These are percussion instruments in which sound is produced by beating or tapping a skin membrane.

Other musical instruments – Dindima (mentioned in Mahabharata), Dhaunsa (drum-like), Dhumdhaka

Music Instruments	Key Points
Drum	Material : Wood, Leather, Parchment A cylindrical wooden shell covered with goat skin on both its ends The most ancient and auspicious ceremony performed by the Dholi tribe
Mridang/Pakhawaj	Material : Wood, parchment, leather, black coating A two-sided cylindrical drum, covered with goatskin at both ends , one narrow and the other wide Black coating on the right end, fine wheat flour coating on the left end Uses – with ‘ Dhrupad ‘ and ‘ Dhamar ‘ styles of music Beeja/Betel Nut/Banyan; Temple War; Artists – Purushottam Das (Rajsamand) , Bhavani Shankar Kathak (Churu)
Maandal	Material : Clay, Leather a two-faced barrel-shaped drum made of baked clay , the mouth covered with parchment Barley paste on the coated skin “Raval ki Maandal” – wooden blocks are inserted into the gut to create tension, similar to a pakhavaj The instrument of Shankar-Parvati; the main instrument of Bhil (Gavari dance) – Garasia (Maandal dance)
Naubat	Material : Iron, Leather A pair of semi-oval latches made of sheet iron with their mouths covered with buffalo skin It is played with two sticks simultaneously. Uses – Ancient wars, palace main gates, nowadays in temples
Chang/Dhap/Ghera	Made of a round wooden circle, covered with goatskin On Holi (Shekhawati) Chang , during the Gedad dance
Duffle	wooden-framed drum, played with sticks On Holi; Duff – Big form.
Khanjari	Material : Wood, Transparent Parchment cymbal-shaped, with a wooden edge at one end and transparent parchment at the other. It is held in the left hand and played with the palm and fingers of the right hand. Nirgun saint, Kalbelia
Damru	Material: Brass, Cotton leather-covered hourglass-shaped hollow brass case Use by Madaris
Deru/Dhak	Larger version of Damru Bhopa of Gogaji Dhak – Hadoti, Durgashtami.
Taasha	A shallow metal bowl with a dry end ( shaped like a plate ) During the procession of Tazias during Muharram
Nagada / Bum / Dammam	the largest among percussion instruments Rana/Dholi caste Nagarchi – the Dholi tribe that plays the drum Uses – Ancient Warfare, Temple Artist – Ramkishan Solanki (Ajmer)
Nishan	A vessel-like shape made by joining sheets of iron, the opening covered with thick leather It is played with two sticks called chimta.
Pabu k maate	Material : Clay, Parchment A pair of large, thick-bellied pots made of baked clay Short neck and wide size Use – When describing the life of Pabuji, a local hero, by the Thori and Nayak communities
Damama/ Tamak	It is a huge iron drum shaped like a pan Mainly in Mewat region (with Rasiya song in Bharatpur)

Autophonic Instruments

Music Instruments	Key Points
Khadtal/Khartal	Material : Wood, Brass Kair Sheesham Acacia Wood Sadhu – musical instrument of the ascetics, played along with the Ektara Famous – Saddiq Khan Manganiyar (Khadtal magician), Ghazi Khan Barna
Manjira/Kansiya	Material: Brass+Copper+Bronze Use – During Terhatali dance by Kamadia sect Kartal/Khartal and Manjira are generally of the same type
Jhanjh/jhanjhar	Material : Ghanta Metal, Cotton Larger version of the manjira , with the edges spread out Two medium-sized metal discs tied with cotton cord Kachchi Ghori dance during Aarti Tal – a pair of cymbals made of bronze
Lezium	A wooden stick with iron chains and small circular brass leaves at the end musical instrument of the Garasis
Ghungroo	Ghungroo, a string of small bells tied around the ankle It is played with rhythmic foot movements during dance.
Bharni	Earthen pot + bronze plate; Eastern Rajasthan, snakebite healing ritual. It is played with the help of two sticks by placing a bronze plate on the narrow mouth of an earthen pot. with the help of two sticks Places of folk deities, for the treatment of snakebite
Ghadiyal / Bell / Veerghanta / Jalar	Material: Brass, Copper, Bronze or Zinc In the morning and evening during Aarti in the temple, in school bell-like structure
Srimandal / Tikori	Bushy and shrub like structure There are small and big round balls shaped like the moon. It is played with the help of two things sticks
Matki/Pitcher	Made of baked clay The pot is struck with the right hand on the flat surface and the left hand on the open mouth of the pot.
Ramjhaul	Ankle-length leather belt Dancers dancing with their feet tied celebration, festival, Gair dance
Ghuraliyo	Made from a bamboo strip five to six inches long A thread is tied on the mouth after peeling it from one side. It is played by pressing the string between the teeth and giving it slack and tension or by pressing a stick. The main instrument of the Kalbelia and Garasia tribes