The kamaicha, a bowed string instrument, is played mainly by the Manganiar musicians of which region?

Explanation

The kamaicha is a bowed string instrument played mainly by the Manganiars, a community of hereditary folk musicians who live in the Thar desert of western Rajasthan, especially in the Jaisalmer and Barmer districts.

The kamaicha is one of the oldest bowed instruments of India. It has a large, round body, carved from a single piece of mango wood and covered with goatskin, and a short neck. It has three or four main playing strings, traditionally made of gut, and many sympathetic strings made of metal, which give it a deep, rich and resonating sound. It is played with a bow and is used to accompany the singing of the Manganiars. The instrument is regarded as sacred by many players, and it is passed down from generation to generation. Because it is difficult to play and to make, it has very few players today, and efforts are being made to preserve it.

The Manganiars traditionally sang for patron families (jajmans), especially Rajput families, at births, weddings and festivals, and they kept alive a large body of songs, including ballads of heroes and lovers, songs of the desert and the seasons, and Sufi poetry. Their other instruments include the dholak, the khartal (wooden clappers) and the morchang (jaw harp). The Langas, another community of folk musicians of western Rajasthan, are known for the sindhi sarangi. Famous Manganiar musicians include Lakha Khan, Mame Khan and Swaroop Khan, and the stage production "The Manganiyar Seduction" has made their music famous around the world.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Kutch in Gujarat is known for its handicrafts and folk music, but the kamaicha belongs to the Manganiars of Rajasthan.
• ✗Malwa in Madhya Pradesh is known for its own folk traditions.
• ✗Bundelkhand in Uttar Pradesh is known for the Alha ballads.