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The
Gauri dance of the Bhils of Udaipur is a purely religious dance performed to
appease Bhairavi, their Ishladeva, during the month of Sravan and Bhadon. The
dance is based on the life of Siva and lasts from morning till evening. During
the rainy season, the Bhils remain out of their homes for a month, and utilize their outing to exhibit their dancing feats which are related to the stories of
'Bhoodhia', an epithet of Siva. This dance reminds one of the Kathakali of south
India with its colour and variety. The episodes of Bhiyanwad, Banjara, Khadlia
Bhoot and the tiger-boar bout lend much charm and effect to the Gauri.
The Banjaras are a nomadic tribe of Rajasthan who used to carry all sorts of
goods from one place to another on their bullock carts. They are found of
dancing. Their women's dresses are pretty and colourful and they usually
dance in couples. The Gangaur festival is the biggest occasion for dancing and
the Banjaras dance to the beating of the dholak. In the absence of the dholak
they create music by beating thalis and Katoris.
The Bagarias are the another nomadic
tribe. They are the sellers of broomsticks and
mendicants. The men do not dance but women perform attractive dances
set to tuneful music. The instrument used is generally the Chang. Bagara women
go from door to door begging and dancing.
The
Garasias, a hill tribe like Bhils and Meenas celebrate the Gangaur
and Holi festivals with community dancing. The Garva is a peasant dance of
Gangaur in which only women take part. The Valar is another Gangaur dance in which
both men and women join. Uniformity of movement in the large group of dancers and
agility are the notable features of this dance. In the Ger dance of Garasias, women are not allowed to participate. The
dancers hold sticks or dandis and rhythm is kept with a big drum and a thali. It
is a  Holi dance full of life and
vigour. Another Holi dance of Garasias is the
Chang. One person plays on the
chang and many dancers holding sticks in their hands move and jump in the
disorderly crowd. The peculiarity of the dance lies in the rhythmic jumps and
leaps of the dancers who sing romantic but obscene songs. Women do not join the
dance but they accompany the jumping male dancers with songs.
The Kalbelias are snake-charmers traditionally wedded to music and dance.
Their dances are performed singly and sometimes in couples, the Kalbelia and his
wife dance to boost their income. Their popular dances are Indoni, Shankaria
and Panihari. Both Indoni and Panihari are popular folk songs and the
dances are based on them. Indoni is a
group dance performed in a circle. The Poongi and Khanjair are the instruments
which keep the rhythm . The costumes of the snake-charmer's wives, embroidered
and colourful lend gaiety to the dance.
The Shankaria is danced by couple. It is based on a love story and its is
very artistic in this movement. The Panihari is also performed by a couple and casts a spell of its own on
the audience.
The
Adbhopas of Mewar live in appalling proverb. Their women are gifted with
melodious voices and sing when begging for alms and dance too as a
professional entertainers.
The Bhavais is a community of musicians and dancers include
Jats, Charmars, Raigars, Bhils, Meenas and Kumhars within their fold. Their dances are physically
vigorous and help to keep the dancers fit. Their women do not join them in the
dance to entertain the Yajmans Patrons.
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