The sands of Jaisalmer are swirling around on a cold evening as folk singer Gazi Khan Barna walks into the tent. The artiste has just wrapped up his concert at the Jaisalmer Desert Festival and is in a hurry as he sits down for a conversation. This is a busy man who is set to travel to Nice in March, before heading over to the US for numerous concerts till November 2023.

“I was born in the Manganiyar community. All we have is music. That alone has helped me travel the world,” Barna says. The musician belongs to the Manganiyar community of Jaisalmer. Known for their musical heritage, the community has produced some of the best known vocalists and musicians of the Rajasthani folk tradition. Barna, also a founder of the Pehchan Folk Music Institute, was presented with the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2022 for his contribution to the genre.