The tribals of Jammu & Kashmir have very close ties with nature.
There are nomads, mostly shepherds that rear animals, who spend their entire life on the road. They often invoke the deity in their tunes. With few people around them, the nomads keep a musical instrument with themselves for company.
They sing and play traditional instruments, with some even using leaves to create musical notes. Shepherd boys roll up leaves into pipes to make sound signals for sheep and cattle. They can also make a variety of sounds with folded tongues or through whistles.
A popular instrument is the Algoza or Nagal (in Gojri). It’s a flute made from a single hollow shaft of wild bamboo with six or seven finger holes. A normal Algoza is seven to 11 inches long. For the Gujjars, the Algoza is a divine instrument.
“This instrument is mainly associated with pastoral nomads and cowherds. The Gujjars play traditional tunes on it, such as popular folk songs,” says Dr Javaid Rahi, renowned researcher and author.
In fact, the signature tunes of Gojri programmes broadcast on All India Radio in Jammu, Srinagar or Poonch are based on Jodhi tunes.
Another form of the Algoza, called the Jodhi or Do Naal, is used in some regions. Jodhi means two flutes, played jointly. The instrument is played with three fingers on each side and is easily available in the mountains. The sound of the Jodhi resembles that of the flute. Jodhi is still popular among the Gujjar and Bakerwal societies.
Another famous musical instrument is the Bisilli. It is triangular, with a hole at the centre and on either side, besides a mouth pipe, producing a typical whistling sound. Bisilli is made of fire-baked clay. The instrument can often be seen with cattle or sheep tenders, accompanying folk songs.
Dr Rahi, himself from a Gujjar/Bakerwal community of Jammu & Kashmir, points out the shepherd can sound high-pitched notes to warn their animals of danger. It has been seen that livestock spread across lush pastures starts converging at one place after hearing a particular tune, he adds.
