www.gradeup.

co

Folk Dance, Folk Music, Music Instruments

Folk Dance of Rajasthan

1. Ghoomar Dance

• It is traditional as well as enthusiastic folk dance.

• Women from any age group perform this dance as it has simple movement. Fascination
starts when colours of the flowing ‘Ghaghra’, the long skirt of Rajasthani women flows
during pirouetting.
• It was basically developed by Bhil tribe and later accepted by other Rajasthani
community.
• The Kachhwaha Clan of Rajputs who ruled Jaipur defeated the Bhils and later acceded
to peaceful coexistence with them.
• Now it is performed all over Rajasthan but especially in Udaipur, Jodhpur and Kota-
Bundi.
• It is dedicated to “Gauri” or Parvati, wife of Lord Shiva.

2. Kalbelia Dance

• It is also known by ‘Sapera Dance’ or ‘Snake Charmer Dance’.

• It is performed by Kalbelia tribe (Nomad Tribe) of Rajasthan known to have the main
occupation of catching snake and trading snake’s venom.
• Males play various instruments like Poongi, Dufli, Morchang, Dholak, Khanjari and
Khuralio and females perform the dance.
• The main performers are female dancers who dance and swirl, replicating the
movements of a serpent.
• On the upper body, the female dancers wear ‘Angrakhi’ and on the head, they wear
Odhani.
• Due to its popularity, it was included in the UNESCO’s representatives list of the
Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity from the year 2010.

3. Bhavai Dance

• It is a very difficult form of dance performed by skilled experts. In this dance, women
dancers balance 8 to 9 pitchers on their heads and
www.gradeup.co

dance simultaneously and sway with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass
and also some time on the edge of a naked sword.
• This dance is believed to be originated in Gujarat and was soon picked up and adopted
by the local tribal men and women of Rajasthan.
• This is basically performed by the women’s of the Jat, Bhil, Raigar, Meena, Kumhar,
and Kalbelia communities of Rajasthan.
• Main instruments: - dholak, jhanjhar, pakhwaja, sarangi and harmonium (played in
background music).
• The government is taking all necessary measures to revive this fast dying tradition of
folk dance.

4. Kathputli Dance

• This dance is world-famous and well known as Puppet Dance.

• It shows and explains the social problems of society and mythological stories, folktales,
etc.
• In the ancient period this art was practised by Bhati community and might have
originated from present-day Nagaur and surrounding areas.
• Puppeteer shows his skill with strings like swordsmanship, dancing, horse riding,
juggling, and acrobatics.

5. Terah Taali

• It begins with the women, who sit on the floor and her body parts are joined with the
Manjeeras which are fixed on their wrists, elbows, waists, arms and a pair in their hands
as well and her accompanists sing slowly in the beat.
• Dancers perform various arabesques with their hands and at the same time may also
balance pots on their hands and hold a sword in their mouth, for making the
performance more attractive.
• This dance is performed by the Kamada tribes who are traditional snake charmers and
it is also performed by the tribes of Mirasi, Bhand, Dholi, Bhat and Nat.
• Male artists sing local Rajasthani folk songs as background music and play different
instruments like pakhawaj, dholak jhanjhar, sarangi, harmonium etc.

6. Drum Dance
www.gradeup.co

• It is a professional dance form of Jhalore region of Rajasthan, where only the men
participants can perform.
• To make the background music more pleasant other percussion instruments are used.
• As the tempo increases, the movement of the dancers increases as well which look so
attractive.
• This dance can be performed on any occasion.

7. Kathak

• Kathak name is derived from the word Katha which means ‘story’ which is based on
epics, myths and legends.
• So kathak is basically an art of telling the story with beautiful body movements.
• The background classical music play with tabla, sarangi, and sitar etc.
• It was developed by Jaipur Gharana, a well known Gharana of India.
• Earlier kathak was performed in temples in praise of Lord but nowadays it is performed
for entertainment purpose.
• There are mainly two techniques; Nrittya which means pure dance (foot movements)
and Abhinaya mean expressions.
• In Nrittya, Dancer mainly focuses on foot movements whereas, in Abhinaya, dancers
focus on facial expressions.

8. Chakri Dance

• Chakri means Chakkar (Circle).

• It is the most popular folk dance of Kanjar tribe inhabited in some parts of Kota and
Buran district and this dance is also their main source of livelihood.
• It is performed in almost all the occasion of Haroti region of Rajasthan.
• It is believed to be as same as the Raai dance of ‘Beriya’ tribe of Madhya Pradesh.
• Main Instruments:- Dholak and Nagada with vocals

9. Fire Dance

• It is performed by the Banjara community which describes the lifestyle of Jasnathis

of Bikaner and Churu districts of Rajasthan.
• It is performed on a large ground, spread with live wood and charcoal.
www.gradeup.co

• Dancers perform dangerous stunt moves with fire as they are blessed with divine
powers.
• A dancer usually takes two flamed sticks in his hands and fills up his mouth with
kerosene oil and with dancing steps he blows the kerosene oil on the flaming stick.
• Dhol, Dholak and Nagada are played during fire dance with increasing tempo.
• It is performed in the desert region of Rajasthan in the nights of winter on the festive
occasion.

10. Kachhi Ghodi Dance

• It was originated from the Bandit region of Shekhawati.

• It is performed by men on dummy horses.
• Men wear the red turban, Dhoti and Kurta and dance with decorated dummy horse.
• This dance is performed to show the importance of horses from olden days in
transportation as well as used in warfare. Horses were used to symbolize royal power
during those days.
• This dance depicts the encounter of the bandits of the Bavaria clan of tribes with the
passing commoners.

11. Khayal Dance

• Khayal means ‘thoughts’.

• It is believed to be originated from Jat community.
• It is performed by the Bhawai tribe of Rajasthan.
• It is the combinations of dance and drama which depict humorous and comic characters.
• This dance is based on the theme of Hindu epics.

12. Gair Dance

• Famous in Bhil community of Rajasthan.

• Both men and women dance together.
• Men dance in a big circle with the wood stick in their hands and beat the stick as they
turn on the beat of the dhol, Nagada and Dholak playing in the background.
• It is performed during festive occasions like Holi, Janamastmi, etc.

13. Chari Dance

www.gradeup.co

• It belongs to Gujjar community of Rajasthan and performed by only women.

• In this dance, women carry a brass pot on head and a lighted lamp is then placed in the
pot.
• This dance is performed in the group in the night and the ignited pot looks so attractive.
• It has no particular step except balancing pot.
• It is also known as ‘Welcome Dance’.
• Main ornaments wore by women during the dance are Hansli, timniya, mogri, punchi,
bangdi, gajra, armlets, karli, tanka and navr.
• Main instruments: - dhol, dholak,bankiya, harmonium, nagada and thali.
• It is mainly performed on occasions like marriage, the birth of a male child and a big
festive occasion.

14. Gawari Dance

• It’s a tribal dance famous in Bhil tribe.

• It is a drama-dance which go from village to village for a month.
• Some of the main characters of the Gawari dance are Rai Buriya Shiva, his two sons
and Katkuriya, the comic handymen.

15. Walar Dance

• It is famous in Garasia tribe.

• It is a prototype of the famous ghoomar dance.
• Garasia tribe is mainly inhabited in the southern Rajasthan.
• It is performed by women in a circular way dancing on the beats of mandal, chang and
a variety of other musical instruments which provide a lively rhythm to their dance
sequences.
• Performed on the occasion of Teej festival and Gangaur.

Folk Music of Rajasthan

• Folk Style of Singing of Rajasthan

1. Maand

• This style of singing developed in the district of Jaisalmer whose old name was Maand.
www.gradeup.co

• ‘Kesariya Baalam’ is the most famous song in this style.

• Famous Singer – Allah Zillai Bai, Gavari Bai, Mangi Bai, etc.

2. Maangniyaar

• Developed by Maangniyaar tribe in the region of Jaisalmer and Barmer.

• Famous Artist – Saddik khan, Saakar Khan, etc.

3. Langa

• Developed in the region of Jaisalmer and Barmer by Langa tribe.

• Mainly known for their song Limbuda.
• Main instrument – Kamayacha and Sarangi

4. Taalbandi

• Developed in the region of Karauli, Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur by Saints.

• Main instrument – Nagada

Folk Instruments Of Rajasthan

Sr. No Instrument Name Main Points

It is State Instrument of Rajasthan.

Mainly played in the regions of Jaisalmer,

1. Algoza Jodhpur, Barmer, Bikaner, Jaipur, Sawai
Madhopur and Tonk.

It is used mostly by Bhil and Kalbeliya tribe

It’s a one-string instrument.
2. Iktara
Mainly played by Kalbeliya, Saints, etc.

3. Kamayacha Famous in Jaisalmer and Barmer region.

www.gradeup.co

It is mainly used by Muslim Sheikhs who are also

called Mangniyar.

Sadik Khan is famous for playing Khadtal.

4. Khartal
Played by devotees and Saints.
It is mainly played during Holi in Shekhawati
region.
5. Chang

It is played by the Kalbeliya Tribe.

It is played during the Bhajans of Devnarayana.

6. Jantar
It is mainly played in Mewar region.

It is famous in the Shekhawati region.

7. Jhanjh
It is played during Kacchi Ghodi dance with Tasa.

It is mainly used in Gair dance of Bhils, Kachhi

8. Dhol
Ghodi dance and Dhol dance of Jalore.

9. Tandoora It is a four-string instrument also called Chautara.

10. Tasha It is mostly played by Muslim people.

It is played during folk drama with Shehnai.

11. Nagada
It was mainly used during wartime.

It’s a flute type instruments having two pipes.

12. Pungi
The famous instrument of Kalbeliya and Bhil tribe.

It’s a famous instrument Mewat region.

13. Bhapang
Zahur Khan is the famous Bhapang player.

14. Manjeera It is famous in Dungarpur region.

www.gradeup.co

It is used in Terah Taali dance.

It is mainly used in Bhairu Ji’s Bhope (Male

15. Mashak
Singer)

16. Maadal It is played by Bhils during Gavari dance.

It is the main instrument of Male singers (bhope)

17. Ravanhatta
It is also called Dhaf.

There is 8 holes in the pipe of Shehnai.

18. Shehnai Mangi Bai is the famous Shehnai player.

It is played during auspicious occasions.

It is used by Langa tribe in the region of Barmer

and Jaisalmer.
19. Sarangi
Mirasi, Langa, Jogis, Mangniyaar, etc played this
instrument while singing.