|
Agni Nritya (Fire Dance):
Now performed by just a few Bhopas in Bikaner district, this
ritual is associated with members of the Jasnath sect from the
Sidh caste. The ritual fire dance is enacted during the Jasnath
fairs or on special demand to cast away negative energy from
someone’s house. Dressed in white clothes and saffron colored
turbans, the ritual starts with slow chanting by the priests to
the rhythmic beat of the nagara (large sigle0sided drum) and
striking of Manjiras. While this is going on a pyre of wood is
constructed and lit. As the wood burns to embers, the tempo of
chanting land drumming is increased to produce a state of
religious fervor. Once the wood is reduced to glowing red
embers, the priests form a line and start to dance across the
burning coals. Treating the embers as blessed gifts (prasaad)
from their God, some hold embers in the mouth and offer them to
the spectators.
Garasiya Dance:
from the extreme south of Rajasthan, and known for one of the
most colorful visually thrilling dances forms of the region, the Garasiya’s are the tribal community spread across some twenty
four villages near Abu Road. The distinctive dance is performed
after Holi in celebration of their folk Kul Devi. Without vocal
accompaniment, it has strong rhythm, and is danced by both men
and women dressed in traditional ornaments, clothes and masks.
Ghoomar: Ghoomar has become known as the single most representative dance
of Rajasthan. The embodiment of the grace, elegance, and beauty
associated with the women of this region, the dancers move, spin
and sway a single, circular file in time to an eight-beat
keharwa, accompanied by a song. Spinning alternately in
clockwise and anticlockwise direction, the memento increases as
the dance develops and often culminates in the dancers
separating from the circle into pairs, taking each others hands
and spinning as fast as they can in the way children enjoy.
Eleven variations of Ghoomar have been documented in the past.
Ghoomar as seen today is mostly a sophisticated form evolved for
and by the women of the “Rajwaaras” or erstwhile seats of feudal
power and now danced at weddings by middle and upper class
women.
Chang Dhamal:
Danced by men only, the group forms a single circular file, each
man carrying a Dhap or chang (a single-sided large
tambourine-like drum), excepting those who dress in female
attire, and one who plays the flute. The dancers sing and
rhythmically crouch, Walk and strike various poses with their
instrument. The singing stops for while, the flute player plays
his instrument, and the Chang provide rhythm. Then the round of
singing and movement is resumed.
Khathputli: Puppet plays based on popular
legends are performed by skilled puppeteers. Displaying his
skills in making the puppets’ act and dance, the puppeteer is
accompanied by a woman, usually his wife, who plays the Dholak
or drum and sings the balled.
Gair Ghoomar:
this is one of the many dance-forms of the Bhill tribals.
Performed during Holi Festival, this is among a few performance
where both men and women dance together.
Gair : Another Holi dance but performed only by men. This becomes Dandia Gair
in
Jodhpur and Geendad in
Shekhawati.
Chakri :
The word “Chakri” is derived from ‘chakkar’ – rotation in
Hindi-is actually the Raai dance of the Beriyas of Madhya
Pradesh, also performed in the adjoining areas of Chhipa Barod
etc. of District Baran, Rajasthan, by their kin, the Kanjras.
The dance involves much vigorous but elementary movement and
intermittent singing supported by robust rhythmic accompaniment
on the Dholak by a male performer.
|