This Project

This project explores the living tradition of the Ravanhatha and the Bhopa community in modern Ahmedabad, focusing on how rapid urban change is affecting their cultural practices. It highlights the challenges they face, including declining audiences and reduced performance spaces, while capturing their resilience through personal narratives.

It also examines how digital tools and platforms can support cultural preservation, using digital archiving, social media, and collaborations with institutions to increase visibility. The project presents practical approaches to help sustain and adapt this tradition in a contemporary urban context.

At its core, the study situates the Ravanhatha within its deep historical and mythological roots, emphasizing its role as a medium of storytelling and cultural memory. It underscores the importance of safeguarding this intangible heritage for future generations while enabling it to evolve with time.

Acknowledgement

This Minor Research Project (MRP) is carried out under the funding-grant from Nirma University, Ahmedabad. (2025-26)

We sincerely acknowledge the Bhopa community and Ravanhatha artists of Ahmedabad and Rajasthan, especially the families who generously shared their time, stories, and musical knowledge for this project.

We extend our gratitude to the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), Institute of Technology, Nirma University, for their academic guidance and support.

Special thanks to our project mentors, faculty members, and contributors for their continuous encouragement, insights, and supervision throughout the research and documentation process.

We also appreciate the support of cultural institutions, local communities, and all individuals who contributed directly or indirectly to preserving this invaluable cultural heritage.

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