Bhangra (by Proma Bhattacharjee)

  For this week’s article I was very keen on a snazzy and popular folk dance genre, something that involves a lot of fun and something that everyone is definitely familiar with. Hindi movie songs, albums have hugely endorsed this dance form sometime or the other…any guesses??... “oye its saddi bhangra yaar!!!”.

            The common myth about bhangra is its all about “balle balle” and “shava shava” with the typical hands up in the air movement. Well this step is definitely the most common in the dance but Bhangra also involves lot of other intricate movements which requires immense energy and synchronization.

Those of us have watched the movie Rang de Basanti, at least the title song cannot not have missed the Bhangra dance which is an inalienable part of the song’s picturization. It was theBhangra that made the song so very colourful and energetic, not to mention fully enjoyable .After observing the dancers carefully I was in awe of their power packed movements, jovial expressions, zest and balance. The Bhangra dance, I found was very reminiscent of our very own “Dhaker nach” as far as some movements and balancing is concerned and their “dhol” replacing our “dhak”.

However, when it comes to bhangra songs my personal favourite is Daler Mehendi’s “bolo tara ra ra”, it was a rage during my school days and even today whenever I listen to that song I cannot help doing a bit impromptu dancing myself.

            But what are the origins of  bhangra?? Bhangra is originated from the land of five rivers, popularly known as Punjab, situated in the Northwest region of the Indian Subcontinent. In its present form it has become very popular in Jammu and Kashmir, and parts of Himachal Pradesh, Haryana and Pakistani Punjab.

           The history of Bhangra can be traced back to as long as 500 years, although it may have existed much earlier. The basic movements of Bhangra is related to the farming activities like ploughing, sowing, harvesting and were generally performed for celebrating the harvesting season. The Bhangra season starts with Baisakhi, a festival that reflects the joyous mood of the farmers for there last season’s success and also for the advent of the new season, that falls on April 14th every year to mark the beginning of the solar year. Hence it is also celebrated as New Year among the Punjabis and many other communities. Bhangra is known as the Folk Dance of Punjab and now can be witnessed at any happy or festive occasions and especially in weddings. `Bhangra’ is generally played with a Dhol beat with a single-stringed instrument called the Iktar (Iktara), the Tumbi and the Chimta.

One of the interesting things about Bhangra is that it`s not just a single dance form but it encompasses large number of sub genres as well. The major sub genres of Bhangra areDhamal, Jhumar, Daankara, Luddi, Giddha, Julli, Gatka, Saami and Kikli.

         Costume is an important part in any performance and more so in Bhangra as it transfuses energy from the vibrant colours of the costumes that are generally used by the dancers. Traditional men wear a Chaadra while doing Bhangra. A Chaadra is a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. Men also wear Kurta, which is a long Indian-style shirt. In addition, men wear Pugerdee (also known as Turbans) to cover their heads. Women wear a traditional Punjabi dress known as a Ghagra. A Ghagra is a long colourful skirt which fans out into a giant disk as a woman moves in her dancing ways. Women wear Duppattas, colourful pieces of cloth wrapped around their neck. Women also wear suits called Salwar Kamiz.

           Bhangra may not be the most sublime and beautiful of the dance forms but it is definitely upholds one important aspect of dancing…letting go and enjoying ourselves.

Those of us are still a bit skeptical about its popularity can browse through the dance remixes in any music store and count the number of “bhangra mix” that each CD sports.

North Eastern Folk-a Paradise Unexplored (Part 2) (by Proma Bhattacharjee)

When I was asked to write this column I had inquired with the editor of Artlemi the word limit of each article and he had quite gallantly told me that there is no limit, I can make it as lengthy as I wish. But Arka I have to tell you and all my readers that now I am having a hard time deciding where exactly to stop because I have so much to write that I fear that I will end up writing an epic. I will try to make this article as concise and to the point as possible but if it ends up as an epic kindly feel free to thrash our editor.

          Continuing with North Eastern folk , we had already talked about Arunachal  Pradesh, Tripura and Assam. The other five states are not very different from them in cultural and demographical stand. Most of the population is tribal and they too perform these dances during festivals and harvest seasons.

         Most of the dances in Mizoram and Meghalaya are festival oriented. These are mostly group dances which express the enthusiasm and cheerful mood of the people. The drum is an important musical accompaniment in their dances. Mizoram has 10 important dances that celebrate life in all its richness with a delightful radiance that is so integral to the Mizo ethos.Main among them are :- the Cheraw dance of the Mizo community is similar to that of Tripura. They too use bamboos for this dance and it is considered to be the most cheerful and colourful dance of the Mizos .

Another important dance form of Mizoram is Khuallam dance. Khuallam is also known as `dance of the guests` and it is performed at the time of ceremony called `Khuangchawi`.

Nongkrem dance is an important dance form of Meghalaya performed during the Nongkremfestival. This is traditionally a tribal dance performed by the Khasi tribes. There is no age limit of participating.
The Nongkrem dance festival is a multipurpose event. With the reason of this event, all tribes of this hilly region area people meet together from their scattered hamlets. They strongly believe in, group prayers or community gathering. Through this dance performance, all these people offer their thankfulness to the gods for a bountiful harvest. They also pray to nature to keep up the timely delivery of rain and ward off evil disasters.

            Manipuri Dance is famous dance form in India which is considered to be at league with the greatest classical forms like Bharatnatyam and Odissi. But Manipur also boasts of folk dance forms which are equally enchanting though little obscure. Manipuri dances, whether the classical ones or the folk dances, are all devotional in nature. These were originally only performed in temples and it yet continues to form an integral part of the religious and social fabric of Manipur. The people of Manipur are very religious and are exclusively attached to the Hindu deities Radha and Krishna, who are often the main characters depicted in Manipuri folk dances.

The Pung Cholom is folk art form with a combination of sound and movements, which sometimes demand acrobatic abilities & stamina. It is an annual ritual festival of the Meitei Manipuris living in the valley of Manipur.
The Nupa dance or Nupa Pala is also known as Kartal Cholom or Cymbal Dance performed with a cymbal or mandira., in a group, only by the men folk. This dance represents the unique Manipuri style of dance and music, where the performers sing and dance to the rhythm of thePung. The movements involved in this dance are soft, gentle and serene during the initial stage; however, it gradually gathers momentum in it. Generally, the Nupa dance acts as a prologue or an introductory dance to the Raslila however; it can also be performed in connection with religious rites.

Manipuri dance also boasts of being a very colourful dance with the most beautiful costumes for both men and women. The Khamba Thaibi dance is a clear example. This dance is a duet performance describing the story of a poor and brave lad of the Khuman clan of Khamba, who fell in love with Thaibi, a princess of Moirang.
           Folk Dance of Nagaland forms the main component of the traditional culture of the people of Nagaland in India. Folk dances of Nagaland are performed mainly in a synchronized manner in groups by men as well as women, based on the kind of dance. Dances are generally performed in religious and festive occasions. Mainly the Naga men perform war dances. This dance is martial and athletic in style. All the folk dances of Nagaland are performed along with war cries and songs by the dancers. The Zeliang tribes and  the Zemis tribe. The former have choreographed their dance is form of battle. No musical accompaniment is there in the folk dances since the shouts and chants made by the dancers offer a suitable musical background. Characterized by great vigor, steps of dashing spears and stances of attack with styled positions, it is an outstanding performance which can only be performed by the Nagas.  The Zemis belonging to the North Cachar hills possesses several forms of dances performed on a number of ceremonies, and each of the dances possess a separate name. These dances are sometimes segregated with regard to the steps of dance, after its similarity with insects, birds or even animals.

            There are various dances which are prevalent in Sikkim, all of these are very colourful in nature. Most of the dances relate to the beauty of the natural surroundings, some depict the harvest season while others are performed for good luck and prosperity. Many of the musical instruments that accompany the dances are unique to Sikkim.
Nepali Folk Dance-Tamang Selo, Bhutia Folk Dance Tashi Sabdo,Tibetan Yak Dance andLepcha Folk Dance-Zo-Mal-Lok are some of the famous dance forms of Sikkim.

            This article can hardly be called concise and it definitely is the longest article I have written as yet. But as I  said before I was having a hard time deciding where to stop, so interesting and varied is the North Eastern folk treasure.

But the beauty of dance can be really appreciated when seen so I would request everyone that when you next visit Youtube try and watch some of these dances. I am sure you will love it.

North Eastern Folk- a Paradise unexplored (by Proma Bhattacharjee)

Few days back I came across an advertisement promoting North Eastern tourism, the ad called North Eastern India the “paradise unexplored”.

Paradise or not but these sister states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghlaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland , Tripura and also Sikkim are very much a part of India and definitely unexplored. Geographically, the hilly and picturesque terrain of these states definitely has a claim to be a tourist paradise but they are also among the most backward regions of our country.

          The region has a high concentration of tribal population. The states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland are mostly inhabited by a number of native tribes. Each tribe has its own distinct tradition of art, culture, dance, music and life styles.

           When it comes to folk dances, the north east is definitely paradise. These are mostly tribal dances marking almost every occasion of their daily lives.                            

          Lets begin with Arunachal Pradesh . The dances performed by the tribes of this state are mainly divided in four categories- the Ritual dances and Festive dances which are performed during a particular festival. The Recreational dances which are performed to express mirth through dance and the last type is the Dance -drama which are used to narrate a mythical story or illustrate a moral.

The Wancho dance is performed by the Wancho tribes during festivals and ceremonies. TheKhampti dance is a folk dance performed by the Khampti community to narrate a mythical story and impart moral lesson to viewers. The Buiya dance of the Digaru Mishmis is a festive dance performed for the prosperity of the performer and his household. Ponung dance is the famous folk dance of Adi tribal people. This is performed by women for good harvest and welfare of the village community.

             Tripura is a small state but has rich cultural heritage of 19 different communities. Each community has its own dance form, most popular among them are:-

Cheraw Dance
The Darlong community strongly believes that man is destined to go to heaven after his/her death. Incidentally, they think that if a pregnant woman dies due to some reason, she feels it very difficult, with all her physical strains, to go the long journey to heaven. Hence, at the last stage of the pregnancy or immediately prior her delivery, all her relatives gather together & perform this `Cheraw` dance, throughout the day and night. This is a group dance performed in order to instill confidence in the mind of the pregnant woman.
People practicing this dance, strongly believe in their faith and feel that even if the woman dies at this stage, it will be possible for her to go heaven with the courage and confidence. It is performed using the sound of bamboo as the rhythm and if the sound continues till her death, it is assured to give her relaxation.
Way (Lamp) Festival Dance 
The traditional dance of the Mog community is known as a `Way Dance` or `Lamp Dance`. `Way` is a name of festival that is celebrated on the day of full moon of the month in Ashvin. Lamps are dedicated to the Lord Buddha, which are lighted on this day itself. The young boys and girls stand in rows with lamps in their hand to worship the Lord Buddha, while indulging in fun & enjoyment through songs and dance. This dance is performed in the premises of the Buddha temple and is like a token of their respect towards God.
Lebang Boomani Dance
Lebang is the name of a colourful insect, which comes in the search of seeds to hill slopes before monsoon. By this folk dance and music people attract the insects from their hiding place and catch them.

Garia Dance: The life of the people of Tripura revolves around Jhum culture, which also known as the shifting cultivation. The people sow the seeds for the cultivation of crops and then they pray for a good future ahead to their `Garia` god for a happy harvest. The celebration is attached to the Garia Puja that lasts about for seven days, where they seek to entertain their beloved deity with song and dance, which is also known as the Garia dance.

The Wangala Dance and Wak Wak dance is also performed to celebrate harvest and cultivation.

            The most popular folk dance form of Assam, is the Bihu Dance . Bihu dance is mostly performed during Bihu festival .This folk dance cuts through all the religious, caste and class barriers of the different kinds of people living in Assam.
Bihu Dance is performed during the festival celebrated thrice annually. Rongali Bihu , the biggest festival of Assam, is celebrated in the mid of April. Bhogali Bihu is celebrated during mid of January and Kangali Bihu is done in the mid of October.     

            

              I had initially intended to include all of North eastern folk in one article but it is nearly impossible owing to the huge variety this part of Indian culture presents and also is unfair to their rich heritage which deserves a proper mention. Therefore next week I will continue with Northeastern folk and the various rituals and beliefs attached with it.

Bengali Folk (Proma Bhattacharjee)

As promised last week I am back with my first attempt at exploring various dance genres. But before that let me confess something, I had no idea that choosing the topic; rather the dance genre for this article would be such a momentous task. I was literally spoilt for choices…I could barely decide where to start from. Should I begin with Indian dances or go international, something snazzy and popular or something atypical.

But then I thought why go international just now when our nation itself is a reservoir of such rich and varied culture.

        When it comes to Indian dances, the names that immediately spring to our minds isBharatnatyam, Odissi, Katthuk etc. But Indian dances comprise of a much wider spectrum than its classical forms which reflect the rich cultural heritage of its various regions .These dance forms are called folk dances. Almost all the regions of the country have their specific folk music and dance, which is a form of expression of their community and traditions. These dances are simple and beautiful because they have the very essence of community and brotherhood in them.

         The eastern region too has its traditional folk dances, some of which have roots inBengal. Every Bengali has probably heard of Baul dance and though this form is slowly fading into oblivion it is an intricate part of our Bengali folk culture. How much do we actually know about Bauls? To most of us they are wandering minstrels dressed in saffron clothes and a turban with an Ektara singing and dancing along the village roads.

But there is much more to it…The word " Baul " refers to three terms : betul, which means " mad ", " out of rhythm " ; vayu, " air ", or the inner flow of energy which gives life and harmony to all sentient beings ; and âuliyâ, a term of Arabic origin, which means " saint ", " holy man ".Bauls can come from a Hindu or a Muslim background; in both cases, they are usually rebels against orthodox practices and social institutions. The reason of that is purely spiritual: they are continuously searching for Adhar Manush, the “Essential Man ", the inner being which is inside of each human body, and this quest for mad love goes beyond all boundaries.

Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is the greatest known Baul singer who had dedicated his life to the ultimate devotion of Lord Sri Krishna.

Bauls always sing and dance together in such a way that the mind melts into the soul in a harmonious way. In their dancing body, energy becomes fluid and intense, and this movement process wipes the ego away: only the Baul consciousness remains.

           Chau dance is another important folk dance which had originated in the Purulia district of West Bengal but has spread to other parts of India like Jharkhand and Orissa as well. But the Purulia Chau differs significantly from Chau dances of other states. This dance is a masked dance performed only by men and is mainly based on episodes from the great epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The costumes are elaborate and colorful.

            Santhal dance is another common folk dance which is familiar to most of us.

Santhals actually are a tribe found in parts of west Bengal and Jharkhand .The tribal community has immense solidarity and lineage. Their dance is mainly dedicated to “Thakurji” whom they consider creator of the world. They also move with the music to celebrate nature’s glory and raise and message. Santhali dance is an immensely popular folk form.

 School and local functions often get to see performances based on Santhal dance, especially by young girls. I have vivid memories of performing on Indrani Sen ‘s ‘ Jhun jhun maina’ more than once during my school days. The song is not exactly Santhal but the dance steps always were. It was one of my favourites.

             Apart from these Bengal also boasts of some other folk forms Gambhira dance which is performed in the Malda district during the Chadak festival. Then there is the Tussu dance of the Birbhum district performed during the harvest season.

The Lathi dance is another notable form of folk dance which has a different art of expression. This dance is used to express different emotions like love, pain, anger, remorse, celebration. The moves of the Lathi dancers express each of these expressions beautifully.

              Folk dancing is mainly about expression of the community spirit and the unique heritage of each community and group and Bengal has no dearth of this unique culture and spirit.

For the next few weeks I intend to explore the various dance forms all over India and the inimitable culture and heritage attached to them.