For travelers Rajasthan offers exotic music that can completely stupefy them. Autophonic Instruments are one of the Rajasthani Musical Instruments, which are made of the material used in day to day life. Today these very instruments are used for creating fusion music as well.
Among the autophonic instruments, the Ghanti or the Ghanta, the ghungroo (ankle bells), the manjeeras (including Jhanit and the Taala), the Thali or Tasli and the Jhalar are commonly used.
We will write about some of the above mentioned autophonic instruments.
Manjeera - An Instrument of Rajasthan
Manjeera
Manjeeras are made of brass and is in the shape of hemispherical metal cups struck against each other. They have different kinds like jhanit and the taala. They are held and played with the hands and often accompany folk or devotional music.
Ghungroo
A ghungroo is one of many small metallic bells strung together to form ghungroos. The sounds produced by ghungroos vary greatly in pitch depending on their metallic composition and size, which are served to accentuate the rhythmic aspects of the dance. The Bhopas of bherunji wear large ghungroos(ankle bells) around their waists and sway their bodies to provide a rhythm.
Khartal
There is another instrument known as khartal which is made of small cymbals incrustated into wood blocks. The khartaal is mostly used as backdrop for bhajans (devotional songs). In Rajasthan, they are commonly used during the religious ceremonies. They also have historic significance as they remind us about the Bhakti Movement and Rajasthan was famous for Meerabai and other bhakti saints.
Jhalar
Jhalar is another variety of musical instrument which is formed by a single metal plate, the thali. This is struck in various ways producing different kinds tones and rhythms. Tha jhalar, also known as ghanta and thali or tasli are commonly used.The jhalar is usally played with bells, blowing of conchshells and beating of drums at aarti and on other religious occasions.
