‘Vanjara’ literally means a trader or merchant. Generally, a person who walks around the streets of villages and cities and sells women’s cosmetic products is called a vanjara. Even till the late twentieth century, they were commonly seen on the streets, but now, this occupation has almost entirely disappeared. When the vanjaras loaded their goods and traveled to sell them, they used to sing songs for their entertainment on the way. It appears that a genre of folk poetry called ‘Vanjara’ emerged based on the tunes of these songs. According to Gurmat (Sikh principle), the being is born into this world to unite with IkOankar (the Divine) by trading in the Nam of IkOankar, that is, contemplating the Nam. For this purpose, the being’s guide is ...