Manganiyaars and Langa musicians are known across the world for their mesmerising musical notes.
In fact, the reference of the Manganiyars, the renowned community known for giving a soothing musical notes, is incomplete without the mention of the Langas community which can be defined as the musical cousins of the Manganiyars. The word Langa means ‘song giver’. This group comprises poets, singers, and musicians from Barmer. This community had their forte in Sufi singing and hence their patrons unlike the Manganiyars were Muslims. They are versatile players of the Sindhi Sarangi and the Algoza (double flute),and perform at events such as births, and weddings, exclusively for their patrons (Yajman).
While the Manganiyar performers traditionally invoke the Hindu God Krishna and seek his blessings before beginning their recital, the Langas sing sufi songs. The Manganiyars once were musicians of the Rajput courts, and accompanied their chiefs to war and provided them with entertainment before and after the battles and in the event of his death. However, Langas have been expert in playing “The ‘Sindhi Sarangi’. This instrument is made up of four main wires, with has more than twenty vibrating sympathetic strings which help to create its distinctive haunting tones. Their patrons, unlike the Manganiyars, are Muslims.