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Music
and dance are deeply ingrained in
the life of Rajasthanis. The cool
stillness of the desert after the
searing heat of the day and the upsurge
of life in the short-lived rainy season
or spring are filled with soulful,
full-throated music and rhythmic dance.
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All
the regions of Rajasthan have their
distinct folk entertainment. The dance
styles differ and so do the songs.
Interestingly, even the musical instruments
are different.
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The
hilly tracts of central and southern
Rajasthan are rich in community entertainments
because of the lifestyle of tribes
like the Bhils, Meena, Banjaras, Saharias
and Garasias.
Eastern
Rajasthan is fertile and affluent,
with plenty of patrons to sustain
professional entertainers like the
Bhats, Kamads, Bhopas, Kacchi Ghodi
dancers and Kathputli (puppeteer).
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People
in the harsh scantily-populated desert
areas of Western Rajasthan have very
little leisure for merrymaking. Therefore,
in this region, entertainment is provided
by professional performers like
the Bhats, Dholis, Mirasis, Nats,
Sargadas and Bhands.
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Folk
traditions and classical forms found
royal patronage in Rajasthan. A major
school of the sophisticated classical
Kathak dance form originated in Jaipur,
as did Dhrupad singing. The rulers
of Jaisalmer extended patronage to
the Manganiyar community.
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| Musical
Instruments |
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The
haunting melody of Rajasthan evokes
from a variety of delightfully primitive
looking instruments. The stringed
variety include the Sarangi,
Rawanhattha, Kamayacha, Morchang and
Ektara.
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Percussion
instruments come in all shapes and
sizes from the huge Nagaras and Dhols
to the tiny Damrus. The Daf and Chang
are a big favourite of the Holi (the
festival of colours) revellers.
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| Folk
Dances |
| Rajasthani
dances have a life of their own, a vigorous
rhythm that is hard to describe. |
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Whether
it is the community dances such as
the men-only Gair, or the women-only
Ghoomar, or the Gair Ghoomar in which
both men and women participate.
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Or
the Kachhi Ghodi dance where men in
elaborate costumes ride equally well-decorated
dummy horses, while a singer narrates
the exploits of the Bavaria bandits
of Shekhawati.
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r
the sensuous Snake dance of the Kalbeliya
gypsies of Jaisalmer, in which women
accentuate supple and snake-like movements.
Or
the spell-binding Fire dance of Bikaner
and Churu where men dance on a platform
of smoldering embers.
Other
popular dances include the Chari dance
of Kishangarh and the Drum dance of
Jalore.
Then
of course, there are the colourful
Kathputli (puppet) shows, which are
a hot favourite with every traveller
to Rajasthan.
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