ਮਿਰਾਸੀمیراثی
Islam & Sufi
- Where
- Every village and court
- Traditionally
- Hereditary singers, drummers, genealogists and comedians
The Mirasis kept the genealogies of their patron families, sang at births and weddings, and carried the qisse and the folk songs from village to village; the Bhands were the comedians and mimics. Almost all were Muslim.
Bhai Mardana, Guru Nanak's companion who played the rabab on all his journeys, was a Mirasi, and his descendants, the rababis, sang kirtan at the Harmandir Sahib until Partition. Much of the classical and folk music of both Punjabs comes from these families.