Traditional Folk Dance Forms of Rajasthan

Traditional Folk Dance Forms of Rajasthan

 In whole India, Rajasthan is the name for rich diverse culture and tradition. The liveliness of Rajasthani traditions and culture reflects through Folk music and dance. For Rajasthanis, folk music and dance are the life and they habituated them as their part of life.

If we observe, there is a great prominence for the arts in Rajasthan. The best example is the Jodhpur’s RIFF which is an international festival to promote folk attractions.

If you are confused what is the famous dance of Rajasthan then here is the list of popular Folk Dance Forms of Rajasthan perform by the Rajasthanis in festivals and fairs.

Top 10 Rajasthani Traditional Folk Dance Style

1. Ghoomar

Ghoomar, a very popular dance of Rajasthan which is inhabited from ancient days. During the times of Kings, this dance form was performed to entertain the kings. Women in colorful attires and the dance moves by swaying & clapping the hands and twirling in rounds looks very attractive and interesting to see. Now, this dance form is very famous throughout the nation and the world.

Best Places to Enjoy: Udaipur, Kota, Bundi, and Jodhpur.

2. Bhavai Dance

Bhavai is a skillful and wonderful dance performance by the women balancing 6 to 7 brass or earthen pots on the head. To perform this traditional dance form needs great effort and hard work. Apart from balancing the pots, they will dance by placing their feet on a plate or on the edge of a weapon. Just think, balancing the pots and dancing within a plate, it’s really mind-blowing dance performance.

Best Places to Enjoy: Jaipur and Bikaner.

3. Kalbelia

Kalbelia dance form popularly known as “Sapera Dance” or “Snake Charmer Dance” and also recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a tribal community dance form by the tribes known as “Kalbelia”. Kalbelia is such a beautiful dance form women in variant colorful clothes forming curly and round line segments resembling a snake. And the background music to the dance performance is another great thing to experience.

Best Places to Enjoy: Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Bikaner, Barmer, Jalore, Jaipur, and Pushkar.

4. Chari

Chari is a traditional dance form by the Kishangarh and Saini communities which is followed during some special occasions like festivals. Women perform this dance form with a brass pot on head and a lighted lamp in it. They balance the pot skillfully by dancing and making different patterns around the floor with ease.

Best Places to Enjoy: Ajmer and Kishangarh.

5. Dandiya

Dandiya, a colorful dance play by both men and women in Rajasthan. It is a very popular and simple dance play along with folk music by circling in rounds and playing with the sticks known as Dandiya sticks. Men and women dancing rhythmically according to the beats of music in vivid clothes looks very colorful and impressive. This dance form mostly performed during festival and marriages.

Best Places to Enjoy: Jaipur and during festivals, almost all places in Rajasthan are known for Dandiya.

6. Kachhi Ghodi

Kachhi Ghodi is a famous dance form by the men representing the stories of Bandits of Shekhawati region. During this dance form, men wear different traditional attires like dhoti, turbans, and kurtas and they perform the dance by riding on puppet horses. The dance form runs with the background songs related to Bandits and mock fights with swords.

Best Places to Enjoy: Shekhawati region, Jaipur, and Udaipur.

7. Terah Taal

Terah Taal is the most ancient art of Rajasthan which is very important and skilled dance form.The main part of this dance form is thirteen Manjeeras means small brass discs. These thirteen brass discs will be attached to the different parts of the body.When the dancer moves these discs makes rhythmical sounds. Along with these, dancer balances a sword in their mouth and pots on the head. That’s why this dance form will be performed by the skilled dancers only. The dance will begin with the women on the floor attached to the manjeeras. Kamada tribes perform this dance form.

Best Places to Enjoy: Not specific. Almost played in all popular festivals in Rajasthan.

8. Gair

Gair is another famous folk dance form by the Bhil community and this dance performance mostly taken place during the festivals like Holi and Janmashtami. Both men and women perform this dance form in colorful traditional attires. Men attires look attractive in long skirts and also they handle sticks for rhythmic beats. The dance formations in clockwise and anti-clockwise moves according to the music beats attracts everyone.

Best Places to Enjoy: Everwhere in Rajasthan

9. Fire dance

Fire dance is a dangerous and difficult folk dance form which is mostly habituated in desert areas. This dance form explains the lifestyle of Jasnathis of Churu and Bikaner.

During this dance form, a large bed of wood and charcoal will light up and men of Banjara community performs different dangerous stunts on this fire according to the drum beats.

Best Places to Enjoy: Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore and Jaipur.

10. Kathputli

Kathputli is a famous puppet dance show which is coming from centuries back. Through this Kathputli puppet dance show, they will narrate different mythological and tribal stories of the past. This puppet show showcases rich culture and traditional values of ancient days. In Rajasthan, for this puppetry dance form has great significance.

Best Places to Enjoy: Marwar region and also most of all villages in Rajasthan.