Rajasthan is a vibrant and colorful world. It is known for its ancient history, customs, and traditions. Folk music and dance performances of this state showcase its rich culture. Each dance form has importance to history and culture. Everyone is captivated by its vibrancy, energy, and liveliness.
Here we have presented some of the remarkable folk dances of Rajasthan:
1. Ghoomar: The Graceful Whirling Dance
So, the first and the most popular Rajasthani folk dance form on our list is Ghoomar. This dance form has gained international recognition. In this dance, women perform various types of graceful moves such as clapping and twirling, and swaying their hands. It makes a sight to behold.
The Bhil community of Rajasthan was the first to start the Ghoomar dance. In earlier days this dance was majorly performed as a source of entertainment for Kings. However, later it gained popularity and reputation in Rajasthan. Presently, this dance is performed at social events and festivals.
Women dress up themselves in beautiful lehenga choli and odhani and perform coordinated dance steps on the beats of traditional musical instruments. Ghoomar is regarded as one of the most appreciated folk dances in the world. It is seen as one of the major tourist attractions for both Indian as well as international tourists.
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2. Kalbelia: The Serpent Dance
The next popular folk dance of Rajasthan is Kalbeliya, also known as the “snake charmer dance” or “Sapera dance”. It is performed by tribal women. UNESCO attributed this dance as an “Intangible Heritage”. In the Kalbeliya dance, women dress in ethnic attire like ‘Angrakhi’ and odhani on a long flowy skirt that turns around very gracefully. They perform snake-line dance moves to the sounds of music. Men play popular musical instruments such as dholak, khanjari, and pungi.
3. Bhavai: The Spellbinding Pot Dance
Have you seen women balancing several pots on their heads over one another and dancing around? This is Bhavai dance, another popular folk dance of Rajasthan. Specific communities of Rajasthani such as Jats, Bhil, Meena, Kalbelia, and Kumhar perform this dance ritual.
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It is a captivating stunt that traditional artists perform. A few learned artists can even balance up to 8 brass or earthen pots on their heads. Male performers sing and play various musical types of instruments such as dholak, harmonium, and sarangi.
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4. Kathputli: The Puppet Dance
This is an ancient form of puppet dance. Bhat tribal community of Rajasthan originated this dance form. Kathputli dance is characterized by vibrant and colorful dolls called Kathputli.
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These lifeless dolls describe stories from Indian mythology and folklore, along with addressing the social issues prevailing in the nation. Kathputhlis are controlled by the puppeteers through strings that are fixed to the puppets. Puppeteer makes strong voices that make this dance form distinctive and appealing.
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5. Kachhi Ghodi: The Energetic Mock Horse Dance
Kachchhi Ghodi is another popular folklore genre in Rajasthan. It showcases stories of local bandits in Rajasthan in the form of this dance. Kachchhi Ghodi started in the Shekhawati region in Rajasthan. This dance form is performed by men in conventional attire such as dhoti kurta and turbans.
They sit and ride puppet horses throughout the dance performance. Soothing flute music and percussion rhythm set the atmosphere. Kachchhi Ghodi dance is popularly performed at various social functions and weddings. Mock sword fights are a characteristic feature of this energetic dance that indicates bravery and chivalry.
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6. Gair: The Dynamic Group Dance
Gair is another important Rajasthan folk dance form. Originated from the Bhil community of Rajasthan, people perform this dance form on prime festivals like Holi and Janmashtami. Traditional women and men artists are decked up in alluring colorful and vibrant costumes. Women wear lehenga choli whereas men wear long traditional attire. They hold an arrow, sword, and stick.
Men play folk music on different traditional musical instruments whereas dancers perform graceful steps in clockwise and anti-clockwise circles. When men artists hit their sticks to the rhythm, the entire sight makes it a captivating melodramatic performance.
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7. Chari: The Fiery Dance
Chari is one more beautiful ritualistic dance of Rajasthan. It majorly belongs to the Gujjar community of Kishangarh and the Saini community of Ajmer. Women enact this dance move as a representation of a ritual of collecting water in a Chari “pot”. This dance is done as an expression of happiness and joy. This makes it perfect for special events like weddings, festivals, or birth ceremonies of a male child.
The women wear the traditional outfit and perform dance moves while balancing a brass pot charion on the head with an illuminated lamp in it. Background music is played using traditional musical instruments like dholak, nagada, and harmonium.
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8. Chang
Chang dance forms the centerpiece of the Holi festival in Rajasthan. It is a sparkling and energetic folk dance that is also popularly called Dhamal. The community in the Shekhawati region originated in this dance form. The highlighted distinguishing feature of this dance move is the quick rhythmic beats of the “Chang” instrument, on which men and women sing, dance, and celebrate in groups.
Another noteworthy feature of Chang’s folk dance is that men dress up as women by wearing female traditional costumes and performing Ghoomar. This site certainly captivates every onlooker.
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Conclusion
After learning about these folk dances and music, you must be wishing to be a part of them. Here we provide the Rajasthan tour package to experience this beautiful traditional dance. You can consider any of these tours to realize your dream.
Some other Rajasthan tour packages from major cities:
- Trip to Rajasthan from Delhi
- Holiday in Rajasthan from Mumbai
- Rajasthan Tour from Bangalore
- Package for Rajasthan from Kolkata
- Rajasthan Packages from Chennai
- Trip to Rajasthan from Ahmedabad
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Great capture of the beautiful Rajasthani dances. They are very colorful and elegant.
I am based in USA and like Indian Rajasthani dances a lot.