Painted Melodies: Ragamala

Join our Teaching Fellows as they lead an observational walk through the Sadar Museum’s collection of Ragamala paintings, taking time to explore each work and the narratives within it.

Joined by members of the Langa Community, following the walk, you’ll experience an immersive introduction to the tradition of Ragamala through music and poetry, learning more about the cultural and artistic richness of this art. Exploring what you’ve learnt, the programme will close with a zine-making activity themed around the seasons in collaboration with the Langa Community.

The word ‘Ragamala’ translates into a ‘garland of ragas’. The word ‘raga’ mainly refers to musical melodies but also refers to colours which fill the mind with a definite feeling, passion, or emotion. Initially Ragamala paintings primarily depicted the six principal ragas namely Basant, Deepak, Sri, Malkaush, Megh, and Hindol, each one of which was designated a particular season and a time of the day from dawn, dusk, night as per the ancient time theory.

Ragamala paintings establish deep, interdependent connections between sounds and visual, mood and time, a tradition which has sustained over many centuries.

Sarangi Langa Artists: ⁠Shafriq (Sarangi & Vocal), ⁠Jaippu Khan (Vocal), ⁠Aslam (Sarangi & Vocal), Abdul Rasi (Vocal & Khartal), ⁠Irfan (Khartal & Vocal), Aslam (Dholak), ⁠Aftab (Vocal) and ⁠Iqbal (Vocal)

About the Creative Arts Education Programme and Teaching Fellows (Event Leaders): 

“Ruthan Ri Raag” (“Melody of Seasons”) is an initiative devised by a group of five Teaching Fellows who have been involved in our pilot Creative Arts Education Programme over the last year. Inspired by the Langa community’s rich musical heritage, the group have developed three community programmes which will take place across public venues in the city.

Their project delves into the community’s profound connection with the social and ecological landscape of Rajasthan, vividly portrayed through their songs. These melodies are not merely tunes; they are lyrical narratives that intertwine the rhythms of nature, the cycles of life, and the emotive landscapes of the region.

Bringing these soulful strains to a wider audience, their project highlights how each season finds its voice in the Langa's music. Through these songs, tales of joy, longing, resilience, and harmony with the natural world are carried, showcasing the profound impact each season has on the lives of Rajasthan's inhabitants.

Furthermore, “Ruthan Ri Raag” seeks to initiate a discourse on climate change. By examining the impact of seasons and changes in their duration and occurrence, the project encourages reflection on how climate change is affecting the natural and cultural fabric of the region.

About the Langa Community: 

The Langa Community is a group of Muslim communities spread across Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Punjab, as well as the Pakistani regions of Sindh and Balochistan. They turn to music to elevate worship into an act of transcendence, while also imbuing many other aspects of community life with vivid rhythmic energies – including weddings, gatherings, funeral wakes, longings, ecology, seasons and much else besides.

Two main traditions of Langa music- The ‘Sonia Langha’ tradition primarily play wind instruments, including the satara (double flute), murali (sideblown flute), and surnai (seven-holed reed pipe) – while the ‘Sarangia Langa’ focus more on the bowed sarangi, a classically-renowned instrument with likely origins in Rajasthani folk lutes.

The Langa Community, with its rich musical heritage deeply rooted in Rajasthan's cultural tapestry, holds a treasure trove of songs. These songs are not just melodies; they are lyrical narratives that weave together the rhythms of nature, the cycles of life, and the emotive landscapes of Rajasthan. Through their music, the Langas celebrate each season carrying tales of joy, longing, resilience, and harmony with the natural world, and the timeless wisdom embedded in Rajasthan's cultural ethos.