The Dynamic and Colourful Folk Dances of Gujarat

The Dynamic and Colourful Folk Dances of Gujarat

 

Gujarat is known to be the Land of Festivals and celebrates a large number of festivals every year. These celebrations are accompanied with musical performances and traditional dance forms based on their rich culture and heritage. Thus, the folk dances of Gujarat are colourful, vibrant and energetic and they genuinely depict the culture.. They include the famous dance forms like Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai and Tippani dance. People of the state are known to have a natural ability to sing and dance. The numerous types of folk dance forms are certainly a visual feast and mirror to the culture of Gujarat The best known among these is the Garba and Dandiya. Folk drama in Gujarat is known as Bhavai dance. Most of the art traditions trace back their origin to the ancient period.

 

Table of contents

·         Garba Dance

·         Dandiya Dance

·         Bhavai, Gujarati Folk Theatre

·         Tippani Dance

·         Padhar Dance

·         Hudo Dance

Garba Dance

Garba is a popular dance form from Gujarat, whose name comes from the Sanskrit terms Garbha (womb) and Deepa (dance). This dance is done by Gujarati women and is associated with Shakti-Puja. It is thought to have originated in the worship of the goddess Jagdamba. Garba dance is performed for nine nights during the Navratri festival. This folk dance is given in a circle by the ladies at events such as Sharad Purnima, Vasant Panchami, and Holi. Aside from that, there is a variation of Garba known as Garbi that is usually performed by men during religious festivals like Janmashtami.

Dandiya Dance

The dance form of Dandiya, also known as the stick dance, is one of Gujarat’s most popular folk dances. This dance form depicts a mock battle between the Goddess Durga and Mahishasura, the demon king. The dance sticks (dandiyas) are said to resemble Durga’s swords. This is another unique type of dance that is also a part of Navaratri, Garba and Dandiya dance performances are distinguished by the fact that Garba takes place before Aarti and Dandiya Ras takes place after it. Garba is only done by women, however, Dandiya is open to both men and women.

Bhavai- Gujarati Folk Theatre

Bhavai is a popular Gujarati folk theatre form with a 700-year history. The word Bhavai is derived from a mixture of two words: bhav, which means emotion, and vahini, which means carrier, hence it is designated as an art form that is a carrier of emotion. The highlights of any Bhavai vesha are music, dance, and vernacular humour. Bhavai uses a variety of instruments, including the bhungal, tabla, kansijoda, jhaanjh, sarangi, and harmonium. In this form of folk dance, the male and female dancers balance up to 7 to 9 brass pitchers on their head as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet.

Tippani Dance

Performed exclusively by women, Tippani is a popular folk dance in Gujarat which originated from the Chorwad district. Tippani dance evolved from an ancient technique of pounding lime into a house’s foundation with a tippani, a long pole with a square wooden or iron block at one end. The women from two lines, facing each other, sing and dance while beating the tippani in time. Tippani dances are done at festivals and weddings. he major musical instruments utilised to control the cadence and tempo of the arrangements are the dhol, Marinara, and Shehnai. Throughout this rhythmic melodic technique, they illuminate their toil. 

Padhar Dance

The Padhar dance, performed by members of the Padhar community. Padhar people are primarily fishermen who reside along the banks of the Bhal region’s Nal Sarovar. They are Hindu devotees who worship Goddess Durga in various forms. The dancer imitates situations that occur in the lives of seamen while performing this dance. The performer dances while holding little sticks in their hands and enacts boat rowing while singing songs about water. Their lively merriment and ardent Padhar folk dance movement exemplifies the region’s rich cultural heritage. Through music and dance, the seafarers’ daily tasks and lifestyle, as well as their feelings and sentiments, are conveyed.

Hudo Dance

Hudo is one of Gujarat’s most well-known folk dances. It is the shepherd community of Gujarat’s Bharwad Tribe’s folk dance genre. Sheep battles were the inspiration for the dance. This dance form imitates the actions of two sheep banging their heads against one other. The dancers clap their hands together in a rhythmic and strong manner. Hudo Dance is performed by both men and women. As an accompaniment, traditional musical instruments such as the Dhol, Dholak, Harmonium, Flute, Kansi, Joda, and Manjira are employed. Dance is the most effective means of expressing emotions and sentiments that are difficult to explain in words.