Faunal Metaphors in Shekhawati's folksongs- An Ethno cultural Interpretation

Folk songs are a natural way for people to express their thoughts. Folk songs have also given local animals and birds a lot of weight. Folksong related to fauna is studied under ethnozoology. The study of the historical, economic, sociological, anthropological, and environmental facets of human-animal relationships is known as ethnozoology. Domestic animals have a special place in the vast repertoire of eroticism-related symbols that folksong has produced. Metaphors based on how animals behave toward plants, animals, and humans are used to describe erotic love, where the sexual act is symbolized by symbolic images. It is challenging to incorporate folk songs from every province because the language, fashion, attire, and customs of Rajasthan change every 40 Kos. In order to learn more about the role of animals in folk songs and sociocultural practices in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan, the current study has been conducted. Using a variety of instruments, including semi-structured interviews and participatory rural appraisal, the ethnozoological data regarding folksong were gathered using an emic approach. 161 folk songs about birds and animals were discovered during the study. 86 (53.41%) folk songs are related to the class Aves, followed by 59 (36.64%) in the class Mammalia, 8 (4.9%) in the class Reptilia, and 8 (4.9%) in the phylum Arthropoda. It is concluded that folk songs are rapidly disappearing from the modern world because the younger generation does not see their value. It is crucial to preserve and promote folk arts because they convey stories of deep human emotions and environmental consciousness.