Seasonal Soundscapes

Join our Teaching Fellows as they present the enchanting melodies of the seasons, performed live by local musicians from the Langa Community, exploring their deep connection to nature and cultural traditions. Afterwards, take part in a guided visualisation activity around Arna Jhana Museum as the Fellows lead you on a journey that will inspire introspection and sharing ahead of a series of interactive activies that will explore memory, the seasons and nature. 

Arna Jharna: The Thar Desert Museum, situated 15 km from Jodhpur, a distinctive cultural enclave envisioned by the late folklorist Komal Kothari. Celebrating the traditional wisdom of the desert and the daily lives of its inhabitants, the museum offers a profound exploration into the region's ethos. Its most remarkable exhibit showcases over 180 varieties of brooms from Rajasthan's 29,000 villages, intricately correlating these tools with rural existence.

Aptly dubbed the 'Jhaadu Museum' by locals, it transcends conventional museum paradigms with a rugged landscape adorned by indigenous flora, including a man-made rain-fed lake, offering visitors a captivating blend of natural beauty and cultural immersion. Led by Kuldeep Kothari, the museum has evolved from its humble beginnings to become a flourishing testament to Rajasthan's heritage, emphasizing the intrinsic connection between humanity and the natural world.

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.