Punjabi Folk Dance

JHUMMAR

This dance, originally from Sandalbar (now in Pakistan), is very much a part of Punjab's folk heritage. It is a graceful dance based on a Jhumar rhythm. The Jhummar is a dance of ecstasy. It is a living testimony of the happiness of men. Any time is Jhummar time especially during Melas, weddings and other major functions and celebrations. Performed exclusively by men, it is a common feature to see three generations - father, son and grandson - dancing all together. There are three main types of jhummar, each of which has a different mood, and is therefore suited to different occasionally, reason of its predominating mood.

This is also performed in a circle. The dancers dance around a single drummer standing in the center. It's costumes are the same as that of Bhangra. It is danced to the tune of emotional songs. The dance is without acrobatics. The movement of the arms only is considered its main forte. Toes are musically placed in front and backwards and turnings are taken to the right, sometimes the dancers place their one hand below the ribs on the left and gesticulate with the right hand. This dance does not tire out its performers and it is normally danced on moonlit nights in the villages away from the habitation. It is mostly danced by tribal Sikh professional acrobats and has yet not been owned by all Punjabis. The dancers of this dance let-off a sound, "dee dee" in tune with the beat of the dance which adds to its grace. This dance has also been integrated into Bhangra.

LUDDI

Luddi is a victory dance where people do special movements of their heads. Its costumes are simple. Only a loose shirt (kurta) and a loincloth are used. Some tie a turban, other the Parna, which is somewhat like a scarf tied across the forehead, while still others join in bareheaded. The dancers put one hand on their backs and the other hand in front of their faces. The body movement is sinuous, snake-like. There is also a drummer in the center of the dance.

This dance is more popular across the Sutlej. In Pakistan it is almost as popular as the Bhangra. This dance has an historical background and pertains to that moment in history when Punjabi Sardars had begun to rescue Indian women that used to be forcibly taken in the direction of Basra in Middle East.

This dance is also the dance of slow movements and some teachers by integrating it into Bhangra have finished its individual identity.

JULLI

Muslim holymen, called pirs, perform this dance. Generally they dance in their hermitages (khangahs). People perform the dance while sitting. Sometimes they dance around the preceptor's grave. Normally the dancer wears black. A single dancer can also perform this dance. Toes are tensed in this dance.

The dancer holds a thick staff in his hands and he dances by revolving it. Sometimes, the murids (followers) also the tie ghungroos (Jingling bells) around their waists like the Bhangra dancers of yore. This dance is fast disappearing.

Dankara

Also called the Gaatka dance, this is a dance of celebration. Two men, each holding colorful staffs, in rhythm with the drums dance round each other and tap their sticks together. This dance is often part of marriage celebrations or religious celebrations.

At least two persons are required to perform this dance, though there is no upper limit. Like other male dances it is danced in circles. They dance as they ply their staffs in rhythm crossing them, with each other's. This dance is either performed at the common yards or in the vanguard of marriage processions to exhibit joy. Sometimes it is also called gatka dance (dance of the dum swords). Women also dance this dance but they do so separately and not in company with men. No special costumes are worn with it; only, sometimes the dancers tie a band around their waist. It is based on only a few movements but these movements are rather impressive. Its high point is achieved when dancers sit down and cross batons. Old people, young children and flexible young men all perform this dance.

DHAMAL

This folk dance also has not been able to achieve the popularity of Bhangra. Of course it is a male dance and, likewise, is danced in a circle. Drum is used as the accompanying instrument; its costumes are akin to Bhangra and Jhumar.

SAMMI

Traditionally women of the Sandalbar region, now in Pakistan, perform Sammi. The dancers dress in bright coloured kurtas and full flowing skirts called lengas. A particular silver hair ornament is associated with this dance. In the middle of their head they fix a domed ornament shaped like an inverted lotus called phul-chowk or Saggiphul (flower of the crossings of the plaits). Sammi has not been able to gain popular acceptance and is breathing its last in the huts of the tribals. Women of Baazigars, Rai Sikhs, Lobanas and Sansi lot tribes dance in this medium. This is also danced in the privacy of women.

This women’s dance is also performed like ‘Giddha’. The dancers stand in a circle and swing their hands, bringing them up from the sides, right in front up to the chest level and clap: they take their hands down in accordance with a rythem and clap again. Repeating this gesture, they bend forward and clap again, and go round and round in a circle. As the rythem is maintained with the beat of the feet, various kinds of swinging movements are performed with the arms. Most of the gestures are confined to the movement of the arms, clicking and clapping. No instrument is required as an accompaniment to this dance. Rythem is kept up with the beating of the feet and clapping.

GIDDHA

Giddha is Punjab's most famous folk dance for women. The vitality of Bhangra can also be seen in the Giddha dance of the women of Punjab. This dance translates into gestures, bolian-verses of different length satirizing politics, the excesses committed by husbands, their sisters and mothers, loneliness of a young bride separated from her husband, evils of society or expressing guileless deep love. The dance rhythm is set by the dhols and the distinctive hand claps of the dancers.

The dance is derived from the ancient ring dance. One of the girls plays on the drum or 'dholki' while others form a circle. Some times even the dholki is dispensed with. While moving in a circle, the girls raise their hands to the level of their shoulders and clap their hands in unison. Then they strike their palms against those of their neighbors. Rhythm is generally provided by clapping of hands.

The embroidered 'duppattas' and heavy jewelry of the participants whose number is unrestricted further exaggerate the movements. The traditional dress during giddha dance is short female style shirt (choli) with ghagra or lehnga (loose shirt upto ankle-length) or ordinary Punjabi Salwar-Kamiz, rich in colour, cloth and design. The ornaments that they wear are suggi-phul (worn on head) to pazaibs (anklets), haar-hamela, (gem-studded golden necklace) baazu-band (worn around upper-arm) and raani-haar (a long necklace made of solid gold)

Giddha can be seen at its best when 'Teeyan' or the women's dance festival is celebrated. This festival in Punjab is celebrated in the month of Sawan. The dance usually takes place on the bank of some river or pond under big shady trees. Swings are thrown over the branches and singing, swinging and dancing starts. On this day when the married daughters come to their parent's house their brothers fix the swings for them. As they swing they share their anxieties with each other through songs. Dressed in their best and decked by ornaments, girls gather during these festivals like the fairies. These dancers look a medley of color and beauty

JAAGO

Literally Jaago means wake up! When there is a marriage in the house, female relatives of the groom dance through the village streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and sing Jaago songs on the night before wedding. The themes of the songs are social and usually a bit of teasing, often aimed at elders, goes with the song. The Jaago is put on the head of groom's mothers or brothers' wife, led by her the mother's relations, singing, dancing frolicking knocking at the doors of residents of the groom's village, enter in, dance gidha accept presents of food, grain and ghee for the lamps and continue these rounds through the night, when youth glows and the dark of the night resounds with mirth and laughter.

KIKLI

Kilkli, is more of a sport than a dance, is generally popular with the young girls. The dance performed in pairs, is a favourite of the young girls. It can be done by any even number of performers starting with two. Girls wheel round and round in a fast movement at the same spot with the feet serving as the pivotal points. The girls sing as they swirl around with colorful ‘dorias’ or ‘dupattas’ flowing from their heads and anklets producing tinkling melodies

There is a rich repertoire of traditional songs available that are used to accompany the ‘kikli’ dance. Most of these songs consist merely of loosely rhyming lines without underlying theme. One of the examples is :

Kikli kleer di,
Pag mere vir di,
Daupatta mere bhai da,
Phitte mun jawai da.