ISLAMKOT: Bhagat Bhugro Mal began to perform over half a century ago, singing traditional Hindu music of Pakistan’s Thar desert, a dying art form he is now trying to save. 

Bordering India, Tharpakar district, where half of 1.65 million residents practice Hinduism, is the largest area populated by Hindus in Muslim-majority country. 

It has a unique musical tradition, a blend of folk with bHajjans — devotional songs that have roots in the ancient metric of Hinduism — and spiritual music of Islam, but few practice it anymore. 

“In the past, old people in Thar desert used to sing bHajjans with the tambura string instrument in groups, but the trend is now decreasing,” Mal told Arab News at his home in Islamkot area. 

“This is mainly because old and experienced voices have left the world and new ones are not coming,” he said. “Thar’s old music is dying,” 

Popularly known by his stage name Nacheez, Mal started singing when he was less than 10 years old. He specializes in Rajasthani folk music, bHajjans, and poems of the famous Sufi mystics Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Bulleh Shah. 

A regular performer of the Pakistani state radio, he is now focusing more on teaching others to save the region’s music before he himself is gone. 

Throughout his decades-long career, Mal has trained about a dozen musicians. Now, he has eight students, all of them young people who attracted by social media interest in local traditions started to explore the old art’s tourism potential. 

“People’s interest in spiritual and traditional music is lessening but the number of singers is increasing,” Mal said. “Due to tourism, youngsters are coming to learn, because this way, they have a chance to earn and establish their career in folk music while doing it part-time.” 

Anand Kumar Meghwar, 20, has been regularly attending Mal’s classes. 

“When I was young, there used to be musical gatherings in our neighborhoods, so I developed an interest and started learning,” he said. 

“With the rise in tourism, the number of musical events and the demand for artistes have also increased. We are invited to perform at such functions which helps us earn.” 

Ramesh Rahi, 30, who has been training with Mal for the past decade, sees a niche opportunity in his region’s musical tradition. 

“There is a dearth of devotional singers, also locally. That provides an opportunity for me to come into this field,” he told Arab News. “I have also made music videos for my YouTube channel where I post bHajjan and other folk songs. I get a good response from that.” 

The chance for music’s revival brought about by social media-inspired tourism is what Mal hopes will help save the centuries-old tradition. 

“I want to preserve the desert’s melody, folk songs and bHajjans,” he said. “I am hopeful the new generation would preserve it.”