Page 2 - Oct-Dec 2011

DANCE ALONG

Folk dances of India can be divided into diff erent categories. There is a dance for every occasion; a dance for every season.
Folk dances are performed not only on festive occasions but also for celebrating the bounties of nature and to please the gods.

FOLK FESTIVITY RHYTHMIC RITUALS

Festivals are an integral part of Indian culture. Every festival These dances are mainly performed during rituals and
has special songs and dances associated with them. These religious ceremonies of a particular community. Most of
dances add colour to the festivals and make them happier these are dedicated to worshipping a God of the specifi c
occasions to celebrate. Goa comes alive on the occasion of community. Every community enjoys dances belonging
‘Tarangamel’ performed during Dussehra and Holi. Youth to their religion with colourful costumes and traditional
wave fl ags and streamers (tarang), inspiring and inviting jewellery. One thing that is common in all forms is the
one and all to imbibe the festive spirit. Garbha is performed peace of mind and the joy it delivers.
during the Navaratri celebrations in Gujarat. In the traditional
dance the dancers perform around a clay lantern with a light
inside, called a garbha deep. NATION’S PRIDE

th
Each year on the 26 of
January, the Republic Day
NATURE NRITYA celebrations would not
be complete without the
India is a land of many seasons. showcasing of our rich cultural
Dances celebrate seasons. We
heritage of which folk tradition – dance, music and art –
love our monsoons so we dance
plays a vital role.
to appease the rain gods, and if
there is plenty of rain we dance to
thank the rain gods! Karagattam Most folk songs of India are dance oriented where a
Illustration by: M.A. Arun
Kanishkar, Std. 10, Sri Sankara is a rain dance performed in group of people sing the local songs, accompanied by local
Vidhyashramam, Chennai Tamil Nadu. Here, the villagers musicians and instruments, while others dance to it.
perform a dance in praise of the BHANGRA
rain goddess ‘Mari Amman.’ The performers balance a water
pot on their head very beautifully. ਿਜੰਦ ਮਿਹ ਬਾਜਰੇ ਿਡਯਨ, ਏਹਾ
ਿਜੰਦ ਮਿਹ ਬਾਜਰੇ ਿਡਯਨ ਕਿਲਯਾੰ

This song is sung to Jind Mahi telling her that spring has arrived
HEARTY HARVEST GARBA
માં પાવા તે ગઢ થી ઉતર્યા મહાકાલી રે
Harvest dances are performed to
celebrate a good harvest each year. વસાવ્યું ચાંપાનેર,પાવા વળી રે
These dances are performed by
This garba is a devotional song sung in praise of Maa Kali of Pavagadh
farmers together with everyone
in the village. Harvest dances are MY FAVOURTIE FOLK SONG
performed in keeping with the (in my language)
yearly agricultural cycle. Bhangra
– the most popular folk dance of ______________________________________
Punjab – is a harvest dance, which is Illustration by: Dhawani
Mahajan, Std. 10, DAV ______________________________________
performed by men. Bihu is the most Intl. School, Amritsar
popular folk dance of Assam. It is a
harvest dance performed as part of This song is _____________________________
the harvest festival in the state.

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