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Decide your favourite colour and pick a city to
match, Rajasthan's kaleidoscope of colours covers all.
Bastions of history, bristling with memories,
these splendid treasures stand battling the vageries of time.
 Fort Amber
The City Palace, Jaipur
Wind Palace, Jaipur
Chittaurgarh Fort
City Palace, Udaipur
Jaisalmer Fort
Mehrangarh
Fort
Nahargarh Fort, Jaipur
The desert sands shimmer and pulsate with an
energy and a spirit of festivity permeates the air, every season
provides many reasons to celebrate.
Camel Festival
Mewar Festival
Elephant Festival
Gangaur Festival
Pushkar Festival
Desert Festival
Ride a camel over the dunes or horses through
the hillside, speed ahead in a jeep and camp under open skies.
A delicate ecosystem, part desert part marshy
lands and even a small section of lush water filled valleys, sports a
wildlife rich in variety.
Whichever Budget Hotel you choose you will
always experience a traditional hospitality that you may never want to
forget.
Jaipur Budget Hotels
Jaisalmer Budget Hotels
Bharatpur Budget Hotels
Bikaner Budget Hotels
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Rajasthan Tours Travel » Tourist
Attractions » Folk Dance & Music
of Rajasthan
Folk Dance & Music of Rajasthan
As
evening falls and the amaranthine sun sinks low into the sands, the desert
comes alive with joyous sounds and celebration. Tribes and gypsy troupes
of folk dancers and musicians travel the land and entertain still, a
legacy of a time when TV sets were unknown. Patronised by the royalty of
yore these communities of performers are still thriving in the land where
the culture has remained unchanged almost since the medieval age. Lissome
women pirouette and dance to rhythmic beats, their skirts swirl around the
fires around which they dance, they move gracefully even as they balance
clay pots or lamps on their heads, and the beat, consistent in the
background seems to emanate from the very heart of the desert. Some of
these ancient dance forms are -
Bhavai
A spectacular performance in which veiled women dance nimbly balancing
seven or more brass pitchers on their heads.
Ghoomar
Performed usually by a group of women, the dance is named after the Hindi
word 'ghoomna' or pirouette, it is an elegant dance where the ladies twirl
gently and gracefully in circles.
Chari Dance
In the desert, water symbolizes survival and gathering water is an
important everyday ritual for the women, the Chari dance reflects this
simple yet all important part of their life. The dancers choreograph deft
patterns with their hands while balancing brass pots on their heads.
Kachhi Ghodi
Male
dancers in elaborate costumes have fake horses strapped around them, to
make them resemble the fierce Rajput warriors of times gone by. A
balladeer sings in the background, narrating tales of bloody battles and
bandits, fifes and drums lend the beat and the dancers with broad sweeping
movements and props such as shields and swords act out the performance.
Fire Dance
A dance that will both shock and surprise you. The dancers actually dance
on a platform made of embers of burning wood and sizzling hot charcoal,
drum beats rise in tandem with their movements, the music gradually
crescendo and the dancers a trance like state. A spiritual performance,
where of course not an inch of their feet gets burnt or harmed in any way.
Drum Dance
As the name suggests men dance with drums around their necks, a part of
the troupe dances while playing huge cymbals and the lead dancer balances
a pointy sword on his mouth while at the same time juggling painted
sticks. You watch with bated breath to see which of these might fall, but
alas they never do.
Snake Dance
One of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan it is performed by the
Kalbeliyas ( the snake charmers community). These sapera dancers wear
long, black skirts embroidered with sliver ribbons and move with all the
supple grace of these sinuous creatures.
Rajasthani Music
Rajasthan's indigenous music was perfected in its royal courts,
sophisticated in style it was accompanied by unusual instruments, mostly
handcrafted by the musicians themselves. The songs spoke of valour,
courage and were mostly in praise of the Rajput rulers. Some of Rajasthans
most popular performances include the Maand, the Kuchamani Khayal, Maach,
Tamasha, Rammat, Nautanki and Raasleela. These ballads were sung mostly to
the tune of instruments like the Morchang, Naad, Sarangi, Kamayacha,
Rawanhattha, Algoza, Khartal, Poongi, Bankia and Daf. Most of these
instruments are handcrafted and exclusive only to Rajasthan, you may want
to take a closer look at them when you are there.
