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Kamayacha, one of the oldest bowed instruments, is the heart and soul of folk music of Rajasthan. The base of the whole instrument is carved out of a single piece of matured mango wood. The craftsman carves the basic shape, and then goes on to refine and smoothen it using finer tools. From the inception of the making process, one can easily identify the most significant part of the instrument, its resonator. Kamayacha as a bowed instrument has a pretty big resonator for its aggregate size, a factor responsible for the warm tone of the musical instrument.
Having the primeval origin, Kamayacha does not have much of the history associated with it, except that the oldest of the records about Kamayacha depicts its association with the tribal community of musicians- Manganiars (AKA Merasi). For generations, Merasis have been playing this instrument for royals’ entertainment. Even now, many of them are earning their livelihood thanking the presence of this magical instrument. You can easily find a Manganiyar singing and playing the heart-warming rhythmic tunes on his Kamayacha, in the surroundings of any of the popular forts in Rajasthan.
It is also a stringed instrument like a sarangi. This is the identity of Langa and Manganiyar communities. It is made from the wood of Rohid, Mango or Aak. Its tabli is round. Goat skin is put on this tabli. It consists of three main wires which are of the intestines of animals. Also, four auxiliary wires are placed above the steel wire bridge. Its wooden yard or command is also made of horsehair. There is heaviness and thunder in its sound. It is used more by the Muslim Sheikh Manganiyar.
The other significant parts of the instrument are the strings. The simplest Kamaicha would have a total 12 strings (3 main, other sympathetic ones), whereas the complex ones have up to 17 strings. To accommodate these many strings on the instrument, a long bridge made of sheesham wood is attached in the middle of the taut goat leather. The strings themselves are made of goat’s guts, at least the three primary ones, rest are made of stainless steel.