King of the Folk Dance : Rajasthan

Rajasthan, one of the dessert place of the world. Rajasthan is famous for its culture, creativity, colours of life and its dance.That is the most colourful dessert of the world. When the rajasthani dancer come on the stage to perform, Rajasthan's thar dessert come alive in the world.  

Rajasthani dancer perform on stage to show their culture and their talent in front of world to represent Rajasthan. Rajasthan is famous for its different folk dance styles and colourful culture. When anyone talk about Rajasthan for its historical places and forts and colourful life, its folk dance and music always come first in this list.

 Here, I want to share some folk dance of Rajasthan from my thoughts that I enjoyed at my Rajasthan's journey. Rajasthan has great variety of folk dances form that express its culture and celebration of festival. 

Ghumar and Jhumar are the main folk dance form of Rajasthan. These dances are performaed on important festivals and occasions like as Holi, Diwali and Ganguar. Kacchi godhi, Terahtali, The fire dance, Kalbelia, Gair and Drum dance are some other form of rajasthani's folk dnace. 

1. Ghumar Dance :- Ghumar is a community dance for women and folk music. It is performed on auspicious occasions of Rajasthan. The famous 'ghoomar', Rajasthan's popular dance get name from it dancing style "ghoomna". In this dance, only women perform  with their covered faces by a veil. They dance while singing traditional songs and perform circular movements gracefully and charmingly.

2. Chari Dance ( The fire dance) :- It is a famous dance form of Bikaner and Churu district of Rajasthan. It is a very tough dance form that I have experienced. It requires lots of patience and skill to perform it on stage because it is performed with pots on the head and lamps in the hand of the dancers. Some dancers performed it with fire burning pots on head and line of  sword.

3. Kacchi Godhi Dance :- It is one the famous most dance form that is performed by men only. With full of zest and joyful, colourful dancers waving on the stage, make all environment colourful and musical. It is performed on the occasion of Holi and originated in Shekahwati region.. The 'Kacchi Ghodi' or dummy horse dance is performed on festive occasions by men who are as colourfully attired, same as being their horses.

 4. Terahtali Dance :- It is a beautiful dance form in that dancers performed with "manjeeras" sitting on floor. In this, women tied it with long strings to their wrists, elbows, waists, arms and a pair in their hands. Their male accompanists sing and play the "tandoora" while the women, with handy and fine movements, create a strong rhythm with the "manjeeras".Sometimes,they hold a sword between their teeth or balance pots or lighted lamps on their heads. This dance form is performed for the kind ritual to please Baba Ramdeo, a local deity of Rajasthan.

5. Kalbelia Dance :- Kalbelia dance, one of the most beautiful and rigorous dance of that famous in the world of Rajasthani famous dance,"Gulabo". This form of dance is performed by women who is vigorous and graceful. This is based on snake charmers community. In this, women dance on the music of "been" that is used to charm the snakes, wearing black coloured dresses.

6. Gair and Drum dance:-  Gair is a famous dance form of the Mewar district of Rajasthan. In this dance form, the men wear long, pleated tunic specially red colour that open out into full length skirts as they move first in clockwise then anti clockwise directions. Men beat the sticks and hold it to create a rhythm. According to the rhythm, they perform various steps with women to the rhythm of music. It is a folk dance of the "Bhil" community, which has performed at the festival of Holi in Rajasthan.

Thus, Folk dance of Rajasthan is famous in whole world with its incredible culture and festivity.