Bhavai | Chari | Gair | Ghoomar
Bhavai
One of the state's most spectacular performances, it consists of veiled women
dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and
then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass or on the edge of
the sword. There is sense of cutting edge suspense and nail biting acts in the dance.
Chari
Gathering water is part of everyday life of women of Rajasthan. The women go
many miles to collect water for their families and their joy is reflected through the
Chari Dance. Dancers choreograph deft patterns with their hands while balancing brass pots
on their heads.
The performance is made more picturesque with the flames from cottonseeds set alight, so that the bobbing heads create streaks of illuminating patterns as they move effortlessly around the floor.
There are several variations to this picturesque dance form that is performed by both men and women. The men wear long, pleated tunic that open out into full length skirts as they move first in clockwise then anti clockwise directions, beating their sticks to create the rhythm when they turn. Originally a Bhil dance and performed at the time of Holi, its variations are the Dandi Gair in the Marwar region and Geendad in the Sehkhawati region.
GhoomarA community dance of the Rajputs, performed by the women of the house and traditionally out of bounds for the men, it uses simply, swaying movements to convey the spirit of any auspicious occasion. There is, however, an amazing grace as the skirts flair slowly while the women twirl in circles, their faces covered by the veil.
All women, young or old, participate in Ghoomar dance, which can continue for hours into the night. As one of the traditional rituals, a bride is expected to dance Ghoomar on being welcomed to her husband's home.
Kachhi Ghodi | Kalbeliya | Kathputli | Terahtaali