Information on people and culture of Jaisalmer, Rajasthan - Swan Tour

While travelling to Jaisalmer, most beautiful part of Rajasthan, it is important to understand the different culture and lifestyle followed by the people in Jaisalmer Rajasthan. These travel tips would help in understanding the locals and enhance the travel experience while travelling to Rajasthan.

The people of Jaisalmer especially the Hindus are divided by the traditional 'Varnashrama Dharm framework—hence they are the Kshatriyas or rulers, the Brahmins or the learned men, followed by the Vaishyas or the traders and merchants and artisans and finally the Shudras, those providing the menial functions. Jaisalmer has also always had a large Muslim population. The Bhati Rajputs of Jaisalmer are a proud warrior race. They are Vaishnavites who trace their line of ascent to Lord Krishna through the Yadava Rajputs and are associated with heroic exploits in battles and resistance to the might of the Turks.

The Pushkarna Brahmins functioned as the advisors to the rulers of Jaisalmer and were keepers of family histories and genealogies. They were not originally Brahmins but were elevated to this status after they excavated the Pushkar Lake.

The Palliwal Brahmins migrated to Jaisalmer from a town called Palli in Saurashtra. The Magbhojak Brahmins serve at the Lakshminathji temple in Jaisalmer. The Maheshwaris and Bhatias are wealthy trading and banking communities while the Oswals are powerful Jain merchants. They were great patrons of art and architecture. The Bhats are also a merchant community who possessed rent-free estates.

The Ravana Raj puts served the royal family as guards and soldiers and even as household servants. The Pithils are the principal agriculturists while the Gadariyas and Rayikas have taken up animal husbandry as their main source of livelihood. A very interesting social group is the Pagi. They have an uncanny power to interpret footprints of people and animals and give information on the basis of pug marks.

The Manganiyars and Langas are the musicians of the desert and live primarily around Jaisalmer and Barmen They sing simple folk songs and ballads about heroism, valour, chivalry and love. They are Sunni Muslims, but they sing for their Hindu patrons in ceremonies like childbirth, weddings, funerals, etc.

To listen to the Manganiyar and Langa musicians sing and play on the pristine dunes sitting around a bonfire on starry nights is an experience of a lifetime.

The artisan or the shilpin community comprises of the kumhars (potters), patri (weavers), cheepas (printers), shilavat (stonecarvers), lohars (ironsmiths), sunnar (goldsmiths), chooriwallas (bangle makers), julaha (weavers), and chamars (leather workers).

The Bhangis and Khabruks are mostly sweepers and scavengers and performed other menial tasks. Though the caste system is still very rigid, the traditional occupation of many castes and communities has changed due to modernization and education.

Most communities still continue to follow their religious practices and social traditions very strongly.

Costumes

The people of Rajasthan show a marked preference for colorful costumes. The typical dress of a Raj asthani man would include a kurta worn as the upper garment and a dhoti or pyjama worn as the lower garment. The turban is an essential part of the attire, and various styles are followed depending upon region, caste and status.

Pink, saffron, red and white are the most popular colours for turbans. They are often dyed in stripes of five colours (panch ranga) or seven colours (sat ranga) or in a crisscross design (mothra). The turban is a symbol of pride and is worn in different styles called pagni, pench a safa or sela. The traditional dress of a woman would include the ghagra, which is a wide skirt worn till the ankle, the kanchli or inner garment and the kurti or blouse. The most striking item however is the ordhni, which is a wide, long scarf used by women to cover their heads and protect themselves from the heat. These ordhnis, like turbans, are colourful and bright, decorated with tie-and-dye motifs or block-printed, and sometimes richly embroidered with mirror work.

It is important to consult a tour operator for various possible holiday options in Rajasthan. Swan Tours, one of the top most travel agents in India offers Jaisalmer tour packages and other destinations which can be included in Rajasthan tour packages at most reasonable prices, for more information contact the travel consultant at Swan Tours, Delhi, India.

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