Context: Recently, the Langa-Manganiyar artists are in the news as efforts are made by the government to document and digitize their folk art performances.

• The project is aimed at saving the rapidly disappearing narrative traditions of these communities.

About Langa-Manganiyar community

• The Langas and Manganiyars are communities of Muslim folk musicians residing mostly in western Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer and Barmer districts.
• While the Manganiars are patronised by the Bhati Rajputs, the Langas have the Sindhi Sipahis as yajman.
• They still sing for their Hindu yajmans on Holi, Diwali and other auspicious occasions like weddings.

Folk art

• The folk art practised by these two communities includes ballads, folklore and songs.
• The major theme includes heroic ballads, romantic epic tales and the Sufi spiritual stories.
• The performances are in multiple languages and dialects including Marwari, Sindhi, Saraiki, Dhatti and Thareli.
• The romantic tales revolving around legendary lovers such as Umar-Marvi, Heer-Ranjha, Sohni-Mahiwal, Moomal-Rana and Sorath-Rao Khangar have traditionally captivated audiences.
• Folk art forms a vital part of the Thar desert’s cultural landscape.