Folk Dance and Music
Jaisalmer is blessed with a colorful and vibrant culture that reflects the rich heritage of the bygone era. The desert city’s folk music and dance is an elemental part of its culture and an exceptional amalgamation of past traditions, different social customs and classical music. The culture, language and tradition of Jaisalmer are to quite an extent influenced by the culture of the neighboring area, Sind.
The city has so much to offer in terms of its culture, music, architecture, crafts and traditions that every year people from around the world flock to this wonderland to get a taste of the desert life. Irrespective of the adverse conditions faced by Jaisalmer in its terrain and climate, the people of this place look happy and satisfied with their lives and are extremely friendly and jovial by nature.
One has to visit Jaisalmer’s villages so as to get the real feel of desert life. Villages are situated far from the city with a majority of the population living in rural areas. The villagers mostly reside in huts (jhopris) made of grass. The key sources of income in the villages are farming and animal rearing. Generally, men go out for work while the women look after homes.
Best 08 Folk Dances From Jaisalmer
1. Ghoomar: Ghoomar is one of the famous traditional folk dance of Rajasthan that performed on auspicious occasions. It was ranked on the fourth number in the list of “Top 10 local dances around the world” in 2013. Ghoomar is frequently performed on special functions, like festivals, weddings, and religious occasions. As a traditional dance, Ghoomar frequently involves traditional songs like “Podina”, “Gorband”, “Mor Bole Re”, and “Rumal”.
02. Bhavai: Bhavai dance is a folk dance in which women balancing a number of pots on their heads and dancing around. This is exactly that dance ritual by specific Rajasthani communities – Jats, Kumhar, Kalbelia, Meena, and Bhil. This type of folk dance is performed by only traditional artists. While balancing the pots they turn around within the circumference of a glass or a plate. Male performers play music instruments involving dholak, harmonium, sarangi, and sing along.
03. Kalbelia: Kalbelia dance is popularly known as the snake charmer dance. In this folk dance, Women are dressed in ethnic attire and dance to folk music which men play some popular instruments include khanjari, pungi (a percussion & woodwind musical instruments), and dholak (a hand drum). Women wear Angrakhi and Odhani on a long skirt to perform this folk dance.
04. Kachchhi Ghodi: Kachchhi Ghodi is a famous folk dance and this dance was started in the ‘Shekhawati’ region and it is performed by men artists in traditional costumes I.e. Dhoti-Kurta and turbans. In this folk dance, men ride on a puppet horse at the time of the dance performance. There is background music involving percussion and flute rhythm. This type of folk dance is also performed at different social gatherings and weddings. This folk dance is an energetic dance that involves mock sword fights which signifies chivalry and bravery.
05. Gair: This is also one of the popular folk dances in Rajasthan state and Gair dance originated from the Bhil community performed on major festivals like Holi and Janmashtami. Traditional Artists involving women and men perform this dance in colorful costumes. Women wear Ghagra Choli. Men wear lengthy traditional attire with a stick, sword, and arrow. This folk dance is a dramatic performance when men hit sticks to a strong rhythm. The music of the folk dance is played on many traditional instruments while dancers perform attractive steps in anti-clockwise, and clockwise circles.
06. Chang: This kind of folk dance is also called ‘Dhamal’. Dancers of this kind of folk dance perform fast-paced steps to the rhythm of Chang. This is a different type of instrument such as a tambourine. This folk dance performance is started in the Bikaner, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, and Churu. This folk dance performs commonly in celebrations of the Holi Festival in Rajasthan. In this folk dance, men dressed in traditional women costumes and sing, dance, and do the Ghoomar carouse which attracts the viewers.
07. Kathputli Dance: The Kathputli dance is performed by the puppets conducted by the strings which the artists control. This cultural program is the same as a puppet show and comprises a Putli (doll), and Kath (wood). This dance form is created by Bhat tribes. The artist also made voices such as puppets for the dolls to converse. Kathputli Dance Artists tell mythological stories of tribes, and also about the social issues of the country.
08. Chari: This dance form is a sign of joy started by the Gurjar community of Kishangarh, and the Saini community in Ajmer. This folk performance is performed by women for special functions such as festivals, weddings, or when a male child is born. Traditional artistes perform a stunt balancing on top of their Chari (head brass pots) with a burning lamp inside. Music instruments involving Dholak, Harmonium, and Nagada play alongside.