Folk Dances from Rajasthan

Women of the Mali community of Kishangarh region of Rajasthan perform Chari dance on the occasion of the birth of a son. It is also called Charwa. Chari literally means a brass pitcher. The dance is called Chari because each of the dancers balances a brass pitcher on her head. On the mouth of the pitcher is put a bowl of fire; flames going up more than one foot high. The dancers spin and make swaying movements yet they never lose the balance of the pitcher. The dancers wear their best dress and dance to the music of Dhol, the drum, Shehnai, the reeded wind instrument, and two idiophones, namely, Thali and Bankia.

Dandia Gair dance is performed with pomp and show during the Holika festival in Rajasthan. The dancers wear wide bottomed and pleated gowns over the Churidar-pyjama. The costumes are very colorful and are embroidered with golden threads. The dance is performed in circular movement. Only percussion music accompany the dance provided by two kinds of drums called Dholand Nagara; three kinds of idiophones called “Thali, Manjira and Khartal”. The dancers also wear ankle bells. When they dance the tinkling of the ankle bells enhances the richness of the percussion music. As the tempo of the dance becomes faster, the flowing gowns present a feast of visual spectacle.

In Rajasthan Ghoomar is a very popular dance. There are various kinds of Ghoomar. Broadly, it can be divided into two kinds: that which is prevalent among the tribal communities in rural areas and that performed by non-tribal and people mostly living in urban areas. Since Ghoomar literally means whirling movement, be it tribal or non-tribal Ghumar, turning and circular movement form the core of the dance. Among the tribal communities, the Sanasis and the Bhils have he tradition of performing Ghoomar. The Sanasis call it Gher Ghoomar. In the tribal Ghoomar, both men and women participate, but in the non-tribal kind only women perform it. In all kinds of Ghoomar; the dancers wear highly pleated long skirts. When they take fast turns, the skirts take the shape of rotating umbrellas and then it becomes a feast for the eyes. While the tribal Ghoomar is accompanied with Dhol; Jhalar, an idiophone; and Algoza, a kind of double flute; the musical accompaniment for the non-tribal Ghoomar is provided by Dholak, Nagara, a pair of bowl shaped drums, one smaller than the other; Shehnai, the wind instrument; and harmonium. In all kinds of Ghoomar, the dancers sing while dancing.

In the eastern part of Rajasthan Kathchi Ghori dance is mostly performed at the time of marriage ceremony. The dance is generally performed by dancers belonging to Kumbhar and Bavaria communities. As the name of the dance suggests, it is a dance of false horse rider. To the both ends of a pair of bamboo rods two baskets are tied. The head of a horse prepared with paper-mache is fixed to one of the baskets. To the other a bunch of flex fibers are tied to suggest the tail of the horse. The dancer gets into the dummy horse at the middle of the space between the two bamboo rods and adjusts it at his waist so that it appears as if he was riding a horse. The dancer is dressed like a bridegroom. Traditionally, four to five dancers perform the dance. The musical accompaniment to the dance is provided by Dhol, the dium, and Turahi, a wind instrument made of brass.

The Kalbelia dance of Rajasthan has now become quite popular outside the province. Actually, Kalbelia is a nomadic community mostly living in the Ajmer-Pushkar region. Their, main occupation was ensnaring snakes and selling snake venom. Now they have opted for other professions. They belong to the religious sect named Nath. On social and ceremonial occasions, the womenfolk of the community sing and dance, as if inspired, to the beats of Daph, a frame drum, and plaintive notes of Been (also called Pungi), a wind instrument made with the dried skin of a whole bottle-gourd to which two bamboo pipes, one with fingerholes, are attached to the lower end. It is a traditional musical instrument which the snake-charmers use to attract snakes.

The Kalbelia dancers wear black embroidered skirt and blouse. While dancing they also perform some acrobatic feats.