At a glance
- Instruments: the khanjari (percussion) and the poongi, a woodwind traditionally played to catch snakes.
- Holi: special traditional dances are performed at Holi.
- Songs: composed on the spot during performances, they carry mythological knowledge through stories; they pass down orally, with no texts or training manuals.
Facts
| Community | Kalbelia, once professional snake handlers |
|---|---|
| Dress | Garments embroidered with small mirrors and silver thread; traditional tattoos and jewellery |
| UNESCO | Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, 2010 |
| Famous dancer | Gulabo Sapera (Gulabi Sapera in the official list), Padma Shri 2016; she made the dance known in India and abroad |
Other Kalbelia dances
- Indoni, Panihari, Bagadiya and Shankariya are also dances of the Kalbelias.
Remember: often mixed up
- Kalbelia or Terah Taliin Kalbelia, women dance in black skirts while men play the poongi and khanjari · Terah Tali is danced seated by Kamad women striking manjiras, in praise of Ramdevji.
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