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Some of the best known folk
dances of Rajasthan are Bhavai, Chari, Drum Dance, Fire Dance, Gair,
Ghoomar, Kachhi Ghodi, Kathak, Kathputli, Sapera Dance and Terah Tali.
1. Ghoomar
Ghoomar is a community dance form of the Rajputs and performed by the
women of the house. The word "Ghoomar" is derived from the word
ghoomna, which means moving in circles. Ghoomar is a very simple dance
in which the women uses simple swaying movements to convey the spirit
of any favourable occasion and move elegantly in circles. There is a
marvelous charm as the skirts flare slowly while the women twirl in
circles, their faces covered by the veil. Womens of all age group,
whether young or old, take part in the dance, which lasts for hours
into the night. A new bride, on being welcomed to the home of her
husband too, is expected perform Ghoomar dance as one of the customs
of the marriage.
2. Gair
Gair is one of the dance forms of the Bhil tribes. This dance is
performed by both men and women together and is performed at the time
of Holi festival. There is some difference in the performance of men
and women in this dance. While performing this dance, men wear long,
pleated tunics that open out into full-length skirts as they move
first in clockwise then in anti-clockwise direction, beating their
sticks to create the rhythm when they turn. Gair dance is usually
performed on any auspicious occassions like Holi, Janmastami etc.
3.
Chari Dance
Chari Dance is most famous dance of Rajasthan which is mostly
performed in the Kishangarh region. In this dance dancers perform with
a Chari or pot on the head. The dancers make the elaborate patterns
with their hands while holding brass pots on their heads. This dance
is only performed by womens. The performance of the dance is made
more striking with the flames from cotton seeds set alight, so that
the bobbing heads create streaks of illuminated patterns as they move
easily around the floor.
4. Kachhi Ghodi
Kachhi Ghodi dance initiated from the Bandit region of Shekhawati.
This dance is performed by the men for the entertainment in the
bridegroom's party.
The men wear dresses like dhotis, kurtas and turbans which are
lavishly decorated and which and ride on the dummy horses. Holding
naked swords, these men move musically on the beats of drums and a
ballad singer sings the exploits of the Bavaria bandits of the
Shekhawati Regions.
5.
Fire Dance
Fire
dance is performed by the Jasnathis of Churu and Bikaner. This dance
is performed by the dancers on a large bed of flaming coals on to the
beats of drums that increases in crescendo till the dancers emerge to
be in a near rhythmic state. Fire dance is generally performed in
winters.
6. Bhavai
The Bhavai dance is one of the most amazing dance. In this dance,
the veiled women dancers balance up to seven or nine brass pots as
they dance nimbly, pirouetting, and then swaying with the soles of
their feet balance on top of a glass, or on the edge of a weapon. Some
of the performers use only papier mache pots that are fixed together,
and move their feat, wonderfully.
7. Drum Dance
The drum dance is performed by the warriors. It is a dance of Jhalore
region of Rajasthan. This dance is performed only by men, men hit huge
large that are tied around their necks. In this dance, a nude sword is
put on the mouth of a man, and juggle three swords with his hands
while avoiding the injury caused to himself. His troupe that consists
of musician holding aloft drums around their necks and cymbals in
their hands support him in this dance. In Drum Dance, men musicians
can play brass plates, big drums or Thalis.
8. Kathak
The word Kathak is taken from Sanskrit word katha meaning story.
Kathak is a traditional and formal type of dance which originate from
Gharana of Jaipur, it is a very important and famous Gharana where it
reached to such a scale that launched it as distinct from the other
centres. Now a days, Kathak dance is very famous and regained
popularity, it is in the state of decline during the rule of the
British Empire. It is now one of the classical dance form of India.
The
most prominent centre of Kathak in Jaipur is the Jaipur Kathak Kendra,
where this dance form is still taught by some of the previous teachers
of the Jaipur Gharana.
9. Kathputli
Kathputli Dance means the dances of puppets. Kathputli dance of
Rajasthan is well-known all over the world and is famous as Puppetry
dance. It is the old tradition of stories from tradition and story of
the past are told through puppets in Rajasthan. String puppetry is
very famous puppetry of Rajasthan.
The puppets in Rajasthan are one of the most important sources of
entertainment in Rajasthan. It is an ancient and popular form of folk
entertainment in Rajasthan and Kathputli dance is considered as most
significant as compared to all the theatrical forms.
10. Sapera
Dance
Sapera dance is a folk dance which is performed in the Rajasthan state
of India by the Kalbelia snake-charmer’s society, the sapera dancers
wear long, black skirts decorated with silver ribbons. This dance is
mostly performed by the female dancers. It is a very popular dance of
Rajasthan and is the heart of Culture and Tradition of Rajasthan. This
dance is originated by Kalbelia - a formal tribe of Rajasthan.
Kalbelia is a unique tribe which always moves from place to place for
their job. It is also well-known by other names like ‘Snake Charmer
Dance’ or ‘Sapera Dance’. Kalbelia dance is mostly performed by a
Rajasthani tribe called ‘Kalbelia’. Kalbelia dance is very popular all
over the world. Now, Rajasthan’s Kalbelia dance and songs are listed
in UNESCO’s representative list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity from the year 2010. In Kalbelia dance, males play a different
types of traditional instruments and females perform dance. This dance
extends all over the Rajasthan.
11. Terah
Taali
Terah Taali is one of the most popular folk dances of the very
significant state, Rajasthan. Terah Taali Dance is usually performed
by well skilled artists. Thirteen Manjeeras (little brass disc) are
attached to various parts of their body, which they hit with the ones
they hold in their hand. This creates a beat on which the dancers
move. The dancers balance pots on their hands and hold a weapon in
their mouth, for making the performance more beautiful. The dance
begins with the women, who sit on the floor and her body parts are
joined with the Manjeeras. This dance is performed by the members of
the Kamada tribe, Terah Taali Dance; Rajasthan is one of the very old
performing arts of Rajasthan. This dance was performed with Manjeeras
and other instruments which are made of metal. |
