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Music and dance
are deeply
ingrained in Rajasthani life. The stillness of the
desert evening and the upsurge of life in the short-
lived rainy season or spring are filled with
soulful, full- throated music and rhythmic dance,
Instruments such as sarangi, kamaycha, satara, nad,
and morchang create a wide range of liting and
melodious sound in accompanment to the music of the
Bhopas, Kalbeliyas, Langas and the Manganiyars as
well as the lively and spontaneous dances, ghoomar,
gair and chari. Through songs the legendary battles
of the Rajputs are told. The music engenders both a
spirit of identity and provides entertainment as
relief from the daily grind of wrenching a living
from the inhospitable land of heat and duststorms.
Folk Music
There is a great tradition of popular poetry, which
is written under the rival banners of Turru and
Kalangi. This is a sung in groups in Jikri,
Kanhaiyya or Geet, Hele-ke-Khyal and Bam Rasiya of
Eastern Rajasthan. The Folk music of Rajasthan is an
indispensible component of functions such as
weddings, engagements, and births. There is a
plethora of songs for such occasions. There are
also many songs associated with planting and
harvesting. In these activities the villagers
routinely sing of their hopes, fears and
aspirations. These songs are best enjoyed in the
Ratijagas- the nightlong soirees of devotional songs
which induces a trance-like spiritual milieu. Other
traditional songs that reflect the rich traditional
heritage of Rajasthan include Endooni, Morubai,
Diggipura ka raja, Dhola dhol majira baje re. Folk
songs of Rajasthan depict various moods including
loneliness of lovers, their union, inter-personal
relationship, laughter, faith and happiness. Folk
music is also used for educational purposes.
Instruments
The haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes from a
variety of delightfully primitive looking
instruments. The stringed variety include the
Sarangi, Rawanhattha, Kamayacha, Morchang and
Ektara.Percussion instruments come in all shapes and
sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols to the tiny
Demrus. The Daf and Chang are a big favorite of the
Holi (the festival of colors) revelers.
Flutes and bagpipers come in local flavors such as
Shehnai, Poongi, Algoza, Tarpi, Been and Bankia
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Dances
of Rajasthan
Kalbelia Dance
This fascinating kalbelia
dance is performed by the women of Kalbelia
community, age-old occupation being catching
snakes and trading snake venom. Hence the dance
movements and the costumes bear resemblance to
that of the serpents. Dancers are attired in
traditional black swirling skirts, sway
sinuously to the accompaniment of pungi, dufli
and plaintive notes of the 'been' - the wooden
instrument of the snake charmers.
Two or three women sing in a high-pitched, free
flowing voice, while others join in the dance.
The vigorous and zestful display of their
perfect movements to the enchanting tune of
musical instruments is a treat to the eyes.
Ghoomar Dance:- |
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This is
basically a community dance for women and
performed on auspicious occasions. Derived from
the word ghoomna, piroutte, this is a very
simple dance where the ladies move gently,
gracefully in circles. The Ghoomar is the
characteristic dance of the Bhils. Men and women
sing alternately and move clockwise &
anticlockwise giving free and intended play to
the ample folds of ghagra.
The Kucchi
Ghodi:- |
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Free dancing
full of zest, with rows of dancers waving
colourful pennants makes the Bam Rasiya of the
Braj region spectacular. It is performed at Holi.
The ‘Kucchhi Ghodi’ or dummy horse dance is
performed on festive occasions, by men who are
as colourfuly attired, as are their horses.
Caari
or
pot Dance:- |
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This dance
requires a lot of patience and balance. The
dancers carry brightly lit brass pots on their
heads, displaying many flexible movements of the
body. It is a dance of gay occassions.
Gair
Ghoomar :
This is one of the many
dance-forms of the Bhil tribals. Performed
during Holi festival, this is among a few
performances where both men and women dance
together.
Terah Taal
(Thirteen Beats) :
This is a dance of professional expertise where
the dancer performs with the help of hollow
metallic discs (Manjeeras) tied on the
hands, legs and foreheads - a thirteen different
places. The performers, mostly ladies, start
beating these manjeeras at thirteen
different places in rhythms with the music.
Fire Dance
: The Jasnathis of Bikaner and Churu are
renowned for their tartaric power and this dance
is in keeping with their lifestyle. A large
ground is prepared with live wood and charcoal
where the Jasnathi men and boys jump on to the
fire to the accompaniment of drum beats. The
music gradually rises in tempo and reaches a
crescendo, the dancers seem to be in a trance
like state.
Drum Dance
:- This is a professional dance-form from
Jalore. Five men with huge drums round their
necks, some with huge cymbals accompany a dancer
who holds a naked sword in his mouth and
performs vigourously by twirling three painted
sticks |
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