Indian Folk Dances - Essay Example

Indian Folk Dances
Indian sub-continent, the land of varied socio-economic setups, religions, and traditions has contributed to the emergence of numerous tribal and folk dances across the region since ancient times. Folk dances are the essential elements of almost every important event of Indian social life and celebration. Despite their extreme simplicity, all folk dances tend to convey certain messages to the community they belong to with regard to their history or survival. This paper will explore the origin, significance, and unique features of two notable folk dances of India; Bhangra and Padayani.
As mentioned in the introduction, one of the important features of all Indian folk dances is their simplicity. Dancers normally wear colorful costumes having creative designs and symbols. They also wear extensive jewels which obviously enhance the performance and overall appeal. Though not classical in nature, Indian folk dances are evidently creative works that comprise certain artistic steps and postures. These steps are usually accompanied by the rhythmic composition of some primitive musical instruments. Unlike classical dances, folk dances are cherished by common people to express their joy on different occasions. To be more specific, folk dances maintain a social perspective rather than the mere manifestation of individual emotions.
Bhangra: Bhangra is a lively folk dance that originated in Punjab and is highly associated with harvest celebrations of the state. Therefore, normally it is performed on April 13, the day of Baishaki. The dance is accompanied by Punjabi Boliyaan lyrics and drum beats. The drummer plays a vital role in enhancing the tempo of dancers’ movements. The costume of Bhangra dancers reflects the typical Punjabi outfit. In addition to the traditional turban on the head, they wear colorful waistcoats and ‘ghunghroos’ on the ankles; and Bhangra, fondly called ‘Shaan of Punjab’ was introduced to Vancouver during the 1st international Sports and Cultural Festival (Dances of India).
Although Bhangra songs have been a major influence on the Indian film industry Bollywood for decades, obviously Bhangra has got mixed with Western classical music. As Huq (121) points out, a bhangra/hip hop crossover has been visible in UK-produced rap for recent years. According to the writer, the bhangra beats and Punjabi lyrics have been a major influence on the Western world of music since the 1980s. In other words, Bhangra has been highly influenced by the various dance periods mainly because of its vulnerability to amalgamate with other cultures and art forms. For instance, as Roy (22) argues, contemporary bhangra fails to reflect its primitive folk origin or other classificatory boundaries. Obviously, bhangra has become a popular art despite its Indian origin as a primitive folk dance.
Padayani: this is one of the important traditional folk dances said to have been promoted by some temples of Southern Kerala in India. The most fascinating feature of this art is the ‘Kolam’, the huge mask which is the imitation of some divine and semi-divine characters including Bhairavi, Kali, Kalan, Yakshi, etc. The masks or chest covers the performers wear are extremely huge so that no one can identify the persons. Although researchers are deeply at odds, the origin of Padayani traces back several centuries. As reported in The Hindu, some are of the opinion that Padayani originated in the Buddhist period; whereas others believe that Padayani is of Dravidian mores in its features. However, as the famous Padayani artist Reghukumar points out, padayani is different from other ritual arts because it ‘brings the deity outside from the shrine to the middle of the society’.
The development of the dance form Padayani is highly attributed to one festival ‘Vishu’ which is celebrated on the 1st day of the Malayalam month Medam. However, since the fifth month of Dhanu, the Padayani season begins. Although Padayani originated as a religious ritual, it has undergone tremendous perceptional changes as it became an integral aspect of the culture. To illustrate, unlike the past, today Padayani has a secular appeal and is simply viewed as a folk art that has a significant influence on the tourism industry of the region.
Compared to Bhangra, Padayani is more complex and ritualistic in nature. This art, for tits theatrical features, has influenced many other art forms of Kerala including Theyyam and Kudiyattam. Other than its influence on certain art forms, it did not have much influence on the population as a whole. At the same time, Padayani did not undergo any change with regard to various dance periods because of its elite ritual concept. Read More