Folk Music

The Manganiyars are professional Muslim folk musicians belonging to Jaisalmer, Barmer, parts of Jalore, Bikaner and Jodhpur districts in Western Rajasthan. Like other hereditary caste musicians, they cultivate a close relationship with their patrons. For generations, they provide musical service to their patrons to receive cattle, camels, goats or cash as a gift. On the other side, they function as record keepers and keep the different family histories alive through their songs, based on pure oral tradition.