Please help to support the Manganiyar artists of Jaisalmer

Hi everyone!

I am Oda Seedhouse, I work as a tour guide and am a social anthropologist. I also the founder and owner of a tour operator (Andean Spirit Destinations), in Peru and India respectively

I am here seeking help to support the Manganiyar artists of Jaisalmer, India.

About Manganiyar musicians

The Manganiyar musicians of Kalakar colony in Jaisalmer, India are hereditary musicians with incredible talent. They are the keepers of oral history and their repertoire includes songs that go back such a long way that they even remember the invasions of Alexander the Great.

The Manganiyar caste is a caste of Muslim hereditary musicians. They are the keepers of oral history and in the distant past, they played at the courts of kings and Rajasthani nobles.

Those of you who had the privilege to experience their wonderful music live know that they are great masters that have given us so much joy in our lives!

Their sources of income have stopped since the epidemic

Now, they have lost their livelihoods due to the COVID-19 crisis and are suffering unimaginable hardships due to this.

India was faced with one of the strictest lockdowns during the present pandemic and the social consequences for the Manganiyar are dire. Now many of them live in the outskirts of Jaisalmer where they sought employment in the tourist resorts and restaurants or cultural venues both on a national and international level. Nearly all sources of income have stopped since the epidemic, depriving the community of their livelihood

All the musicians have large families to support. The lack of income and support means total destitution for them

Usage of the funds

I wish to raise funds to be used for buying basic food items (rice, lentils, chickpeas, flour, oil, milk, tea, etc) and other essentials (medicines, baby nappies, etc) to benefit the musicians and their families. it is not an elaborate project, it is simply a matter of survival in these hard times.

I planned to support the Manganiyar musicians (and other communities in India) through my community tourism: https://veggieperu.com/vegan-alternative-rajasthan-tour/

They all have big families that depend on them. Please support them by donating if you can.

You may also support individual artists and their families by booking musical lessons online or booking virtual musical concerts. Please get in touch for more information.

I would be happy if you could use the [Help by sharing] button to share my project!