MUSIC

Maand: A form of court music, the maand is a raga formation that developed in Marwar and includes a complex inflexion of voices sung in a deep bass. This sophisticated form of music percolated down to folk forms and professional singers use it to sing ballads that have a haunting quality as their voices range over the desert. The maand has also been used to sing the praises of their ruler-patrons. A festival is now exclusively dedicated to the event in Jodhpur.

Pabuji ka Phad: Pabuji Ramdeo was a Bhopa hero of the 14th century whose exploits provide the background for ballads sung against a painted scroll where vignettes of his life are portrayed in comic-strip fashion. Performances are held at night. As the Bhopa minstrel sings the ballad accompanied to the music of the ravanhatha, his wife holds an oil lantern to illuminate the particular portion of the scroll where these deeds have been painted. Entire village communities gather to view the performances.