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Folk instruments of Rajasthan

Rajasthan's folk instruments fall into four classes by the way they make sound. Exams ask the class of an instrument, who plays it, and with which song or rite.

⏱ 3 min read2 detailed pages✓ Facts checked 15 October 2026

Contents

At a glance

  1. Four classes: tat (strings), sushir (wind), avanaddh (skin-covered) and ghan (solid, self-sounding).
  2. Odd one out: of khartal, mashak, shehnai and algoza, the khartal is ghan and the other three are sushir (CET Graduation 2022).
  3. Ravanhatha's name: by legend, it is named after Ravana ('Ravana's hand').

Tat: string instruments

  • RavanhathaPabuji's ballad fiddlePlayed byBhopas of PabujiKnown forCoconut-shell body, bamboo stick and a bow of horsehair
  • JantarTwo-gourd instrumentPlayed byBhopas of Devnarayanji (Gurjars)Known forLike a veena, with two gourds; the strings are struck upward
  • KamaichaGoatskin-bellied bowed lutePlayed byManganiyarsKnown forBody carved from one piece of mango or rohida wood; 17 strings
  • Sindhi sarangiBowed sarangi of SindhPlayed byLangas of Jaisalmer and BarmerKnown forCarved from one block of wood; four playing strings of gut and 22 sympathetic steel strings
  • SurindaBowed string instrumentPlayed byLangas
  • Tandura (chautara)Ramdevji's bhajan instrumentPlayed byKamadsKnown forFour strings; played with the bhajans of RamdevjiFull notes →
  • BhapangSingle-string talking drumPlayed byJogis of the Mewat region (Alwar area)Known forA string passing through a skin stretched over a gourd shell; accompanies bhajans

Sushir: wind instruments

  • AlgozaDouble fluteKnown forTwo flutes blown together, one for the tune and one for the droneFull notes →
  • SataraInstrumental-only pipesPlayed byMeghwals of the Jaisalmer-Barmer areaKnown forPlayed on its own, without a singer, in intricate note patterns
  • PoongiSnake charmer's pipePlayed byKalbeliasKnown forTraditionally played to catch snakes
  • MashakBagpipeKnown forAir bag of skin; its pipes play a drone or a tune
  • ShehnaiReed pipePlayed byKuchamani and Shekhawati khyalKnown forAlso heard with the Ghoomar
  • BankiyaBronze trumpetPlayed byGairKnown forUsed in processions and ceremonies; in Gair it plays with the dhol and thali

Avanaddh: skin-covered instruments

InstrumentPlayed byKnown for
DholGair and GhoomarLarge, double-sided; beaten with wooden sticks
DholakManganiyars and Langas, among manyDouble-headed; played with both hands, usually seated
NagaraGindad; Hela khyal (the bam, a big nagara)Large ones played standing with big sticks, smaller ones in pairs, seated; once a war drum
ChangHoli in Shekhawati; Turra-Kalangi khyalEach dancer of the Chang dance plays one
DaphCharbait singersBoys' daph songs are named after it
KhanjariKalbelias; Jogis
MandalBhils in Gavari

Ghan: solid instruments

InstrumentPlayed byKnown for
Khartal (khadtal)ManganiyarsFour thin wooden plates, two held in each hand, played with dance-like swings
MorchangLangasSmall iron instrument pressed between the teeth; its tongue is struck with a finger and the mouth is the resonator
ManjiraKamads; JogisSmall metal cymbals
ThaliGair and Gavari
ChimtaRammat troupes; Jogis
KagrachhBhils of Vagad and ChhappanA split bamboo with serrated grooves on both sides
HankalA bunch of iron chains; hankal is another word for sankal (chain)
Tankora (ghanta-ghadiyal)Thick round plate of mixed bronze, copper and zinc; rung at temple aarti and, in schools, to tell the time

Remember: often mixed up

  • Phad instrumentPabuji, ravanhatha · Devnarayanji, jantar.
  • Morchang's classghan (solid) on the Ministry of Culture's Indian Culture portal, and Rajasthan Tourism groups it with percussion; many exam books list it as sushir (wind).
  • Bhapang's classexam books list it as tat (string); Rajasthan Tourism and Sahapedia call it a percussion instrument, a 'talking drum'.

Test yourself: asked in exams

CET Graduation Level 2022 · Q20

Which one of the following musical instrument is different from the other three?

  1. (1)Khadtal
  2. (2)Mashak
  3. (3)Shehnai
  4. (4)Algoza
Show answer

✓ (1) Khadtal

See the full paper

RAS Prelims 2024 · Q128

Consider the following statements about the folk instrument 'Chautara' and choose the correct option from below : A. It is a four stringed instrument. B. It is generally used in singing bhajans of Ramdev ji.

  1. (1)Only A is true.
  2. (2)Only B is true.
  3. (3)A and B both are true.
  4. (4)A and B both are false.
Show answer

✓ (3) A and B both are true.

See the full paper

Protection Officer 2022 · Q136

Which one of the following is an autophonic instrument ?

  1. (1)Kundi
  2. (2)Karna
  3. (3)Peli
  4. (4)Tankora
Show answer

✓ (4) Tankora

See the full paper

Protection Officer 2024 · Q6

The folk instrument of the Bhils of Vagad and Chhappan, which is a split bamboo with serrated grooves on both sides, is called -

  1. (1)Hankal
  2. (2)Chipia
  3. (3)Kagrachh
  4. (4)Khartal
Show answer

✓ (3) Kagrachh

See the full paper

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