Music of Haryana


Folk music of Haryana has two main forms: classical folk music of Haryana and desi folk music of Haryana. They take the form of ballads and pangs of parting of lovers, valor and bravery, harvest and happiness.

History

Haryana is rich in musical tradition and even places have been named after ragas, for example Charkhi Dadri district has many villages named as Nandyam, Sarangpur, Bilawala, Brindabana, Todi, Asaveri, Jaisri, Malakoshna, Hindola, Bhairvi and Gopi Kalyana.

Folk music

Haryanvi folk music can be :

Classical Folk Music of Haryana

The classical form of Haryana music is closely associated with and based on Indian classical music. The Indian state of Haryana has produced a number of kinds of folk music, and has also produced innovations in Indian classical music. Hindustani classical ragas are used to sing Alha-Khand about bravery of Alha and Udal, Jaimal Fatta of Maharana Udai Singh II of Chittor, Brahmas, Teej festive songs, Phaag songs of Phalgun month of Holi and Holi songs.
Variations
is a musical apprenticeship tribe of Hindustani classical music in Mewat region. Known for being Pandit Jasraj's musical lineage, the gharana was founded by brothers Utd. Ghagge Nazir Khan and Utd. Wahid Khan of Bhopal in the late 19th century at the Jodhpur court. Consequently, it is also known as the Jodhpur Gharana. With its own distinct aesthetics, stylings, practices, and repertoire, the gharana emerged as an offshoot of the Gwalior and Qawwal Bacchon musical traditions. The gharana gained visibility in the late-20th century after Pt. Jasraj popularized the gayaki.

Desi/country music of Haryana

The country-side or desi form of Haryanvi music is based on Raag Bhairvi, Raag Bhairav, Raag Kafi, Raag Jaijaivanti, Raag Jhinjhoti and Raag Pahadi and used for celebrating community bonhomie to sing seasonal songs, ballads, ceremonial songs and related religious legendary tales such as Puran Bhagat. Ahirs also use melodic Raag Pilu on a scale using seven semi-tones.
Kissa folklores of bravery and love such as Nihalde Sultan, Sati Manorama, Jai Singh ki Mrityu, Saran de, etc. are some of the most popular folklores. Rasa lila and "Ragini" are folk theatrical performance Haryana. The Ragini form of theater was popularised by Lakhmi Chand. Singing is a great way of demolishing societal differences as folk singers are highly esteemed and they are sought after and invited for events, ceremonies and special occasions regardless of the caste or status. Songs are based on day to day themes and injecting earthy humor enlivens the feel of the songs. Haryanvi dances have fast energetic movements, and popular dance forms are Khoriya, Chaupaiya, Loor, Been, Ghoomar, Dhamal, Phaag, Sawan and Gugga. Loor, which means girl in bangar area of Haryana, is performed in the form of questions and answers format by the girls in traditional haryanvi attire in the month of phalguna during the Holi festival to marks the arrival of pleasant spring season and sowing of the rabi crops.
Young girls and women usually sing entertaining and fast seasonal, love, relationship and friendship related songs such as Phagan, Katak, Samman, bande-bandi, sathne. Older women usually sing devotional Mangal Geet and ceremonial songs such as Bhajan, Bhat, Sagai, Ban, Kuan-Poojan, Sanjhi and Holi festival.
All these are inter-caste songs, which are fluid in nature, are never personalized for specific caste. These are sung collectively by women from different strata, castes, dialects so these songs do change fluidly in dialect, style, words, etc. This adoptive style can be seen from adoption of tunes of Bollywood movie songs into Haryanvi songs. Despite this fluid nature, haryanvi songs have a distinct style of their own.

Traditional Occasions for Music Making

Haryana has rich tradition of dances for various occasions and seasons. These dances come under one or the other category. Broadly, the following dances are common in one area or the other and performed on specific occasions.

Traditional musicians and artists

The folk music of Haryana has been spread by the Bhats, Saangis and Jogis. Baje Bhagat, Dayachand Mayna, Jat Mehar Singh Dahiya and Lakhmi Chand are some popular early era Haryana artists.

Music Instruments

Music is made using many traditional instruments Sarangi, Harmonium, Chimta, Dhadd, Dholak, Manjeera, Khartal, Damaru, Duggi, Daf, Bansuri, Been, Ghungroo, Dhak, Gharha, Thali and
Shankha.
Other instruments are: