Jayasinhji Jhala Collection of Dhrangadhra Music at Harvard University: Original Ethnographic Recordings, 1979-1981

This collection contains recordings and documentation mostly covering the music of the Gujarat province, particularly showcasing poetic recitations by female singers of Zenana courtly traditions. Of particular importance are the singers Alla Rakhi Bai Langha and Hemu Bai Mir, who are featured along with a handful of additional female singers. Much of the music comes from the dance tradition, bava anjha, and sung tradition, marasiya, which are part of a funerary ritual conducted for up to eight days after a person dies. There are two types of anjha performance. One is performed standing while the second is performed sitting. In the standing version, dancers move slowly while the Khvas maids intervene and speak/cry out. They cry, “Khva na havaj ghare padharo” (“Lord come home”), followed by, “Halvad na hakam ghare padharo” (“Lord of Halvad come home”), followed by “Adda goda nakho andata” (“Put your horse between oh giver of food”). During the seated version in the Zenana (court), performers wear head coverings and slowly perform the seated dance. The queens sit cross legged while facing each other. Performers sing and beat their breasts while banging their knees on the ground. This is called “taking the anjha.” During this ritual, the wives of the cadets and bhayat (members of the clan) sit watching with totally covered heads. Persons of all castes are present, and plain clothes may be worn. Other songs include those surrounding the Holi holiday period sung by day laborers in plain clothes who go through town receiving small amounts of money and grain for singing their songs. Another tradition represented is rasada, which are songs sung in the chowk courtyard in the evening, mostly during the time of Navratri in October and November and during the birthdays of other festive days, such as marriages and religious holidays.