Folk Dances Of India State Wise

Folk dance is a simple expression of the collective euphoria of the common man.

It has existed right from the beginning of the creation in the liberated realms of nature; sometimes with a spontaneous charge, sometimes with an eagerness to hunt and sometimes to the satisfaction of its gods. Human beings have been subject to spontaneous bliss and collectively created dances.

When the people of the village come together to celebrate any occasion through dance, that celebration is known as folk dance.Kathak Dance From Which State

Folk dance is not bound by any rules, rather culture and tradition form the base. Through them all aspects of nature - biological, environmental, social, cultural, historic - are all clearly visible. Folk dances are performed in a circle, vertical or row, which can be divided into three categories- 

1)-Dances performed by women only

2)-Dance performed by men only

3)-Dances performed jointly by women and men.

In this way, folk dances are associated with social sentiment, collective enjoyment and cultural themes. All the provinces of our country have a rich tradition of their folk dances.Like- Garba of Gujarat, Bhangra and Gidda of Punjab, Ghoomar of Rajasthan, Banjara, Kalbeliya etc.

GARBA

Garba is a famous folk dance of the state of Gujarat. During the Navratri days in Ashwin month, women of Gujarat perform these dances by installing a statue of Amba Mata and making a circle around it. This dance is performed in two ways:

The first type is performed by clapping the hands, which is called Taal Rasak. In the second type it is danced with small sticks in the hands and playing it, which is called Dandiya.

For this reason Garba dance is also known as Raas.

Songs are sung in praise of Amba Mata in Gujarati language with this dance.

Drums, dholak, manjira, shehnai, flute etc. are played along with this dance. At present, modern instruments like synthesizers, drums etc. are also used in it.

Nowadays men also take part in this dance. Women traditionally wear straight Gujarati saris or Kathiawadi lehenga-odhni along with traditional ornaments. Men wear normal kurta pajamas or white churidar pajamas along with a turban on the head. Online Kathak Dance Classes

GHUMAR

Ghumar is a famous folk dance of Rajasthan. It is performed on the occasion of Garhgaur Puja in Chaitra month by women only - to please Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for their husbands.

 For the next sixteen days from the second day of Holika Dahan, a woman worships Garhgaur and in the evening, goes to a garden and decorates it with flowers and leaves. This dance is performed by making a circle around the idol of Shiva and Gauri.

In this dance, women move in a circular motion and gradually move forward.

This dance was named Ghumar because of its rotation.

With this, songs are sung in Rajasthani language, in which there is a mutual love of husband and wife with the desire to play Ghumar.

With this dance, in the old times, instruments like nagara, shehnai, bronze plate etc. were played. However, today we see instruments such as dhol, manjira, khanjdi, harmonium, flute etc being played.

BHANGRA

Bhangra is a famous folk dance of Punjab.

After the arrival of wheat crop in Vaisakh month, the farmers of Punjab start dancing with joy. Baisakhi fairs are organized in villages, in which the youngsters dance collectively with enthusiasm and zeal.

This is only the dance of men: parallel to it, the dance performed by women is called Gidha. Bhangra dance is full of vigor due to the presence of masculinity. The Punjabi youth perform various foot movements while jumping high. Their zeal and enthusiasm are seen by the movements of shoulders and hands in a fast rhythm.

In Bhangra, they also make human pyramids and other shapes. Songs such as Dohe are also sung in Punjabi language with this dance, which consists of questions and answers with rhyme.

Punjabi youths wear lungi, kurta jackets and turban on their heads, dressed as this dance. They also carry handkerchiefs in their hands.

The main place in the instrument of this dance is that of dhol, with instruments like chikara, chinta, kathatal etc.

Ho Harappa and Balle Balle are often said out loud to maintain the collective enthusiasm.

ADHUNIK NRITYA

Indian dance that, despite being expressive and rhythmic, is free from classical postures and complex rules is known as Adhunik Nritya. The origin of this form of dance comes from Uday Shankar. Although he went to study painting in Europe, he took up dance after being inspired by Anna Pavlova. He not only studied various Indian classical dance forms, but also the scriptures and sculptures of various Indian stupas and monuments. These were further molded and reinvented which gave rise to Oriental style. 

Other names associated with Modern Dance is Guru Gopinath, who is currently established as a Kathakali teacher and practitioner; as well as Guru Rabindranath Thakur who aimed at connecting society with the subtleties of natural dynamics of dance and movement.

Kathak is the most mesmerizing dance form woven around the concept of storytelling. 

Click here to know more about the different concepts related to charming dance mudras, and footwork such as Gharanas of Kathak & Ghunghroo Importance.