In a world of religious tension, it is music that brings disparate traditions together. India – ‘land of contrasts’ is a tourist cliché, but there is always an element of truth in the most tired catchcry, and there is no doubt that the subcontinent has many rich and varied cultural experiences to offer the adventurous visitor.
But even fellow Indians view Rajasthan as the most colourful and diverse state of all. Rubbing shoulders with Pakistan, the mostly-desert land sprawls across India’s north-west border. No wonder the name means Land of Kings – in days long gone no fewer than 22 principalities fitted inside the area that today is called Rajasthan. Trade routes, warlords, feudalism, Mughal rule and of course, the British Raj have all shaped the many traditions of this vast area. In a country of festivals, Rajasthan has more than most – and naturally, every festival must have music.
