Folk dances of Rajasthan

At a glance

1. 1UNESCO: the Kalbelia folk songs and dances of Rajasthan were inscribed in 2010 on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
2. 2Professional dances include Bhavai, Kachhi Ghodi and the Dhol dance of Jalore.
3. 3Holi dances of the men: Gair, Gindad, Chang and Bam.
4. 4Famous performers: Gulabo Sapera, Kalbelia (Padma Shri 2016) · Falku Bai, Chari · Dayaram, Bhavai.
5. 5Three regions: Devilal Samar, founder of the Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal at Udaipur, divided Rajasthan's folk dances into those of the hills, the desert ('Rajasthani' in the RBSE book) and the eastern plains.

Main folk dances

• GhoomarKnown as the state danceWho dancesWomenWhere and whenWeddings, festivals and other auspicious occasionsKnown forThe wide ghagra spreads in a circle as the dancers turnFull notes →
• KalbeliaSerpent-like danceWho dancesWomen of the Kalbelia community; men play the musicKnown forSwirling black skirts; poongi and khanjariFull notes →
• GairHoli stick danceWho dancesMen; linked especially with the BhilsWhere and whenHoli; Mewar and the Barmer areaKnown forA ring of dancers striking sticks; the dancers are called geriyeFull notes →
• BhavaiPot-balancing danceWho dancesProfessional dancers, men and womenKnown forFeats on swords and pieces of glassFull notes →
• Terah TaliDance of thirteen manjirasWho dancesKamad womenKnown forDanced seated, with manjiras tied to the body, in praise of Ramdevji
• ChariPot with a lit lampWho dancesGurjar womenWhere and whenKishangarhKnown forA brass pot (chari) balanced on the head
• GhudlaPerforated-pot danceWho dancesWomenWhere and whenJodhpurKnown forA lamp burning in a pot full of holes (the ghudla) on the head
• Kachhi GhodiDummy-horse danceWho dancesMenWhere and whenShekhawati; weddingsKnown forThe rider, in warrior dress, holds a sword
• Dhol danceProfessional drum danceWho dancesMali, Dholi, Sargara and Bhil menWhere and whenJalore; weddingsKnown forFour or five dhols played together, opening in the thakna style
• Agni danceDance on burning embersWho dancesMen of the Jasnathi sectWhere and whenKatariyasar village, BikanerKnown forThe heap of embers is called dhoona
• GindadWeek-long Holi danceWho dancesMenWhere and whenShekhawati; HoliKnown forSticks struck to the beat of the nagara
• ChangHoli dance with the changWho dancesMenWhere and whenShekhawati; HoliKnown forEach dancer plays a chang in a ring; then dhamal and Holi songs in the centre
• BamBig-drum danceWho dancesMenWhere and whenBharatpur–Alwar region; PhalgunKnown forA big nagara called bam, beaten with two thick sticks
• ChakriFast-spinning danceWho dancesKanjar womenWhere and whenHadoti
• ValarGarasia dance without instrumentsWho dancesMen and womenWhere and whenSirohi areaKnown forSlow; men in the outer half-circle, women in the inner one
• LoorGarasia marriage danceWho dancesGarasia womenWhere and whenPhalgun, up to Holika Dahan
• MavliyaKathodi tribe danceWho dancesMenWhere and whenNavratri

More dances by community

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