FOLK SINGERS

Manganiyars : The artist of this group have performed in may foreign lands. They are mainly living in Jaisalmer & Barmer districts of western Rajasthan. Their main Jajmans are Bhati Rajputs of Jaisalmer. They have folk composition for every occasion and the main instruments used by them are Kamayacha, Surinda and Murla.

Artist history : Some artists in this group now well known names in India and International stage. Some of these artists of International fame also features in many of publicity brouchers and calendars of Rajasthan Tourism.

Note : * Please note that Tarazoo Dance, Kalbelia Dance and Chakri Dance are very fast moving dances.

* Bhawai Dance will play by the artist on sword, nails, pieces of glass with around 10-12 pots on her head.

Langas : They are community of folk singers from Jodhpur and Barmer districts, patronized mainly by Rajput community. The “Jajmani” system in rural Rajasthan is still prevalent.

According to this system the occupational castes work only in their ‘Virit’ (which is a circle of selected families who patronize and give work / job to the occupational caste) similarly the families of the virit of the occupational caste are called ‘Jajmans’. The Jajmans of Langas invite then to perform during marriages and other festivities like child birth a.s.o. Like any other group of artists the Langas too are known for their distinct style of singing. The main instruments of Langas are Sindhi Sarangi (a very old fashioned stringed instrument almost on extinction) Khartal & Dholak. 

Ghoomar Dance

A community dance of the Rajputs, performed by the women of the house and traditionally out of bounds for the men, it uses simply, swaying movements to convey the spirit of any auspicious occasion. There is an amazing grace as the skirts flair slowly while the women twirl in circles. All women, young or old, participate in Ghoomar dance. As one of the traditional rituals, a bride is expected to dance Ghoomar on being welcomed to her husband's home.

Kachhi Ghodi Dance

Originated from the bandit regions of Shekhawati, the dance is performed for the entertainment of the bridegroom's party. Dancers while elaborate costumes that resemble them riding on dummy horse. A vigorous dance, it uses mock fights and the brandishing of swords, nimble sidestepping and pirouetting to the music of fifes and drums. A ballad singer usually sings the exploits of the bandit Robin Hoods of Rajasthan.

Terahtaali

A devotional form of dance practiced be the Kamad community, to honor their folk hero Baba Ramdev, it consists of women sitting on the floor before his image. Tied to various parts of their body are thirteen cymbals, which they strike with the ones they hold in their hand. Their hands perform various arabesques while they do this and for effect, they may also balance pots on their hands and hold a sword in their mouth.

Chari Dance

A dance of tribal community from HADOTI (Kotah, Baran & Jhalawar) region of Rajasthan. The Dancers are young women, colorfully dressed, wearing multi plated short skirts (Assi Kalli Ka Ghaghra). The male artists play Dholak. Chakri Dance was performed in the past to entertain the tribal chiefs and also during the community celebrations. The stamina of the dancing girls is awe inspiring and during the community celebrations the performance can go on through out the night. The artists of this group have performed in some foreign countries.

Tarazoo is Traditional Balance machine. Artist takes it in his/her hands, dance fastly and moves with Tarazoo in fast rounds. Dance start slowly but it becomes fast as accompanied by the rhythm of the Drum. Its very attractive dance.

Bhawai Dance

    

One of the state’s most spectacular performances, it has a dancer balancing several brass (or other metal) pots on his/her head as he or she dances nimbly, pirouetting, and then swaying with the soles of his or her feet perched on top of a glass, or on the edge of a sword. There is a sense of cutting edge suspense as the dancers performs on broken pieces of glass, swords & nails. Supporting artists play music & sing.

Chakri Dance from Jaisalmer :

The dance performed by the artist of this group is a mixture of various forms, but the element of CHANG DANCE (performed before and during the festival of colors-HOLI) has an edge over all others. These artists also perform in BARAT receptions during marriage and such festivities. The main aim is to entertain the guests during celebrations and festivals. In this dance the dancer dances in accompaniment of DHOL & THALI played by the other artists.

Kalbelia Dance

One of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, is performed by the Kalbelia (Snake-Charmers) community. The dancers are Kalbelia women wearing long black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. As they spin in a circle, their body sways acrobatically, so that it is impossible to believe that they are made of anything other then rubber. As the beat increases in tempo, the pace increases to such a pitch that it leaves viewer as exhausted as the performer. Most of the artists of this group have given their performances in foreign countries.

Introduction :

Rajasthan is known for its spirit of celebration. Each region in Rajasthan has its own form of folk entertainment. In most parts entertainment is provided by professional communities of entertainers whose livelihood depends on it, and who have evolved their respective arts into fine forms. Certainly the patronage of the former royal families in the past helped to support the entertainers.

There have always been several communities of artists & performers in Rajasthan, and they have served both at the royal court and common men’s courtyard as they traveled through the state, recounting tales of passion, valor, knightly prowess, chivalry and the rhapsody of the matchless romance of the folk heroes & heroines – a legendary of sagas and infinite charm of Rajasthan. For many of these communities this has been the only source of livelihood and they have not owned land, and settled, but chosen to lead their lives as minstrels. It is believed that all the gypsy communities of the world are supposed to have made their way around the globe from Rajasthan..

Traditionally, families would invite these dancers, singers and musicians at family celebrations whether births or marriages or other festivities. No Rajasthani marriage is for example, complete unless led by the DHOLI/MANAGANIYARS/LANGAS with their simple drums (Dholak) and accompanied by the deep bass of their voice.

Professional entertainers who performed a particular type of dance, or entertainment, are to be found in the more fertile tracts of eastern Rajasthan. These include the Bhopas (who sing in praise of PABUJI RATHORE the folk hero from Marwar, accompanied by the PHAD paintings), the Kachhi Ghodi Dancers, and the puppeteers.

Some of the best known entertainers of Rajasthan are the KALBELIYA Dancers with their rhythmic snake dances. The LANGAS of Jodhpur & Barmer districts and the MANAGANIYARS of Jaisalmer district have traveled all over the world to entertain audiences, so simple and uncomplicated, but compelling, is their repertoire. In recent years however, these performer have become more widespread so that their regional distinction is beginning to wear off.

Celebrations in Rajasthan range from the religious to the popular, linked with commerce, as in the case of the camel and cattle fairs. In more recent years, the tourism department of Rajasthan too has initiated a number of fairs and festivals in an attempt to showcase the performing arts of Rajasthan, region wise. Amazingly, though the soil throbs with the sounds of celebration, its vibrant chords require little sophistry apart from the simple, unsophisticated instruments that include the RAVANHATHA (a stringed instrument), the MORCHANG (a Jewish harp), the BANKIA (Trumpet), ALGOZA (the Twin flutes), the DUFF (Tambourine), and the amazingly innocuous MATKA (earthen pitcher) which is flipped over to play the most amazingly mesmeric beat that resound with the pulse of Rajasthan.