Maharaja - Formerly known as Musafir, Maharaja is a group that gathers the leading musician tribal castes of the desert of India, country of the Kings, Rajasthan, the land of some of the richest and most diverse traditions in Indian art and culture, delimited by the Swamps of Kutch, in Gujarat at South, the Arawalli mountains at East and by the Sindh, in Pakistan in the West.

Outrageously elegant and beautiful, malicious and majestic, these musicians, poets and shamans reflect their music and their sumptuous surrounding. A music of ecstasy, a whirlwind of climaxes punctuated by the gentle gesture of a breathtaking tune. An authentic magical experience.

The ancestors of these musicians played an important role in spreading the teachings of the many sects of mystics, Sufi and Bhakti movements, through singing ballads and devotional songs. For the warriors, they were familiar figures on the battlefield where their praise of past heroes and their exploits through epic tales, plus their ridicule of the enemy would encourage bravery and boost morale.

This hearted music of pure pleasure and pain is highly communicative and captivating for worldwide audiences though it originates from pure no man's land and is the primitive (Jhangra) form of North Indian classical music.

Still, westerners would groove at a sound in the midst of their best Arabic, Indian and Gypsy scale of references to their rich and highly refined repertory of Folk, Devotional, Praise and Epic songs, music, dance and performance and be amazed by their rich-looking cinematic appeal.

The actors of Maharaja are more magic peoples than artists and this music can certainly not be directed.

Living like simple villagers at heart in the most remote area of the desert where the 21st century does not exist, the members of Maharaja are often described like the Gypsies of Rajasthan which they are not, ethnically speaking, gypsies, but the music they are playing today still represents what was played at the time of the great migration.

Also by the fact of their low status (nik jat) they used to be serves and not allowed to own land, can assimilate them to the discrimination suffered by the Gypsies in Europe.

In India they are called " Kalakar "(sacred servants of the Art)

The members of Maharaja originate from the following casts :

The Langas

Langa means " the song giver. "

A group of accomplished poets, singers, musicians and genealogist proceeding from Barmer district.

Langas are looking for the beauty of the tune, playing and singing together they would echo each other to accentuate their common tune to a vertiginous transcending sound which is one of their magic practice through the music.

They seem to have converted from Hinduism to Islam in the 17th century, later, Sufi influences prevented them from using percussion instruments.

However, the Langas are versatile player of the Sindhi Sarangi and the Aloogoza (double flute) which accompany and echo their formidable and magic kind of voice.

They perform at events like birth, wedding, exclusively for their Muslim patron (jaajman), the Sindhi Sipaï, who are cattle breeders, farmers, owner of the land where they have been allowed to live and are regarded as Kings.

Langas are the guardians of the oral tradition of the family (king) they belong to.

The major cast in Maharaja is represented by these Langas, and precious unique masters (Ustad) , certainly the best last ones, who give Maharaja this unique refined sound.

The Manganyars

An another cast of fine musicians and singers, who mainly proceed from Jaisalmer and Barmer district.

Manganiar means " one who begs "and indicate the low status of these superb artists. Also mostly converted to Islam at some time, still they do continue to sing for their Hindu " patrons ", the Rajputs and Megwals and are like the Langas, the guardians of the oral tradition of the family they belong to.

At one time, they were musicians at the Rajput courts, accompanying their chiefs to war and providing them with entertainment before and after the battles and at his death, they would stay performing at the ruler’s " samadhi "day and night until the mourning was over.

Despite their conversion to Islam, the Manganyars retain Hindus practices and often play in Hindus Temples.

Manganyar singers are spontaneous and uncontrollable with much energetic rhythmic elements.

Maharaja is proud to present Gewar Khan an incredibly creative and powerful percussionist, 22 years old, from Jaisalmer, certainly the " Zakir Hussain "of the Dholak ! 

The Kalbelias

From the nomadic Jogi casts, who worship the Nag Deva (the Cobra), devotees of Shiva and followers of the Yoga system of philosophy. Men are traditional snake-charmers. Women are dancers who perform a special symbolic dance, pretending to transform herself into a cobra whilst in a trance like state.

And from the Jaisalmer nightclubbing proceeds the one and only dancing Desert Drag Queen, performing a trance-like whirling dance, dance actions illusions at the midst of a human and a puppet and cross dressing confusion emphasized by the warmest winks…An incredible performer !

Maharaja is just a new name for the Rajasthani group Musafir who achieved worldwide success and dazzled audiences from Tokyo to San Francisco. They recorded a new CD to be available in Spring 2001 and presented a new side project : Maharaja Flamenca featuring Flamenco wizards from Andalusia. Maharaja Flamenca appeared for the first time at the at the international world music convention, Womex 2000 in Berlin, and was reported to be one of the highlights of the conference's showcases. 

Maharaja was part of El Tiempo de los Gitanos tour in Europe and the Gypsy Caravan tour in the US and was on tour from April 2001 till November 2002.  

The group's first album under the name Maharaja cameout in October of 2001. It is an experience of Sufi trance by the master gypsy musicians from Rajasthan. 786, is the numerology which stands for the verse of Bismillah, a Muslim blessing. Astonishingly, these numbers aggregation relates also to the Hindhu Lord Hari Krishna.

Official Web Site: www.mymaharaja.com