DesiEvite Blog

Recently Posts

Categories

Festivals

Veeragase dance: An aggressive and vigorus dance difficult to perfect

5/7/2013 6:17:00 AM

Veeragase is a mythological, vigorus, aggressive and an ancient folk dance. It is only found in Karnataka and it is very popular here. Veeragase is the name of the garment worn by a soldier when he is at war. Veeragase was a geart warrior who was created by the sweat of Lord Shiva. Mythological stories state that when Lord Shiva got angry by the news of death of her wife Sati he got angry and started dacing Tandav a dance form and a drop of sweat fell on the earth and created Veeragase. He was a geart warrior.This dance form is realted to Hindhu community. It got it foundation from the dance named “Veerabhadra Kunita”. A visible difference between these two dances is that “Veerabhadra Kunita” is a solo dance and Veeragase is performed with two to six members. It is mandatory that the number of dancers should be even. Another important fact is that it is performed by a community names the Veerashaivas. They are the worshippers of Lord Shiva and Veerabhadra. Thi

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Ghambira: A devotional folk dance raises social issues of the society

5/6/2013 7:29:00 AM

Ghambira is a devotional folk dance which is very popular in West Bengal.It is performed during Chadak festival in the month of March-April. It is known as a devotional folk dance because it is performed to worship Goddess Shakti. It is known as Ghambira because it is performed at the hall of dance of Chandi Mandir and is called as Gambhira. This people believe that this hall has been constructed as an exbhition area. This art is a mixture of dance, music, songs and dialogue which transforms it into a folk play. There are only two dancers who perfrom this dance. One of them is called the Nana (maternal grandfather) and the other is known as Nati (grandson). Both of them use dailouges to express their feelings and show their role in the society in financial and physical aspects. The dialogue can be in the form of prose or verse. This dance is also known as narrative Ghambira. When the chorus repeats the two actors dance on the music. Another kind of Ghambira which focuses on God

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Dollu Kunitha: A group dance of Karnataka

5/2/2013 5:58:00 AM

Dollu Kunitha is the most popular and a famous dance of Karnataka.It is performed mainly by men and women of the Kuruba community of Nothern Karnataka. It is performed in order to please the God Beereshwara or Beeralingeswara. Dollu is actually a drum like instrument which is used for music. There are several stories attached to this dance form. These stories involve God Shiva. It is performed at holy places.  The theme for this dance is based on 'Halumatha (Kuruba) Purana' which is passed from generation to generation in oral form. It is drum dance. The group consists of twelve to sixteen dancers. There is a leader in the center who controls the actions of the perfromers.The dance consists of quick movements and synchronized group formations. Dollu can be found hanging around the neck of the dancer during the dancer performance so it requires that the dancer should be physically strong.   These instruments used are trumpets, gong and flute. This dance is also accompan

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Bhavai: A dance of balancing pictchers on the head

5/1/2013 12:45:00 AM

Bhavai is an ancient dance genre which is very popular in the state of Rajasthan. People believe that this dance originated in the state of Gujarat but very soon the Rajasthani people acquired the mastery on this dance form. Latter it became a part of the state’s culture. This folk dance is supported by many communities. They are Jat, Bhil, Raigar, Meena, Kumhar, and Kalbelia. Kalbelia communites are snake charmers and they have extraordinary skill for this dance. The women take part in this dance. During the performance 8 to 9 pitchers are placed on their heads. They have to balance these pitchers while dancing. They can swing their arms or they can beat the floor with their feet. In addition to that they can also walk on the naked sword or they can walk on the brass plate. The spectators are so amazed by the performance that they start bitting their nails. In this state the women fetch water from long distances. They carry the picters on their heads. Through this constant

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Ghoomar Dance: royal folk dance performed on festive occasions

4/30/2013 7:29:00 AM

Ghoomar a traditional royal folk dance has strings attached to the state of Rajasthan. This dance was developed by the “bhil” community. The word ‘Ghoomar’ is derived form ‘Ghoomna’ which is a long skirt with spectacular colours. In the local language it is ‘ghaghra’. The dance is performed in circles. The women arrange themselves in a circle.They start moving in clockwise or anticlockwise direction. Sometimes they clap. Footwork is an important ingrident of this dance. When the women dance the grace and the vibirant colour of the ghaghra can be seen. The women dress themselves into traditional ghaghra and choli with chunaris. These costumes are highly decorated and have mirror work on them. In addition to that they wear their traditional jewellery along with bangles in their both hands. The faces of the dancers are covered. Most populat song sung during the performance is “Mhari Ghoomar chhe Nakhrali ye Maye”. Song

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Hojagiri: Old Culture Dance requiring expertise

4/29/2013 5:45:00 AM

Hojagiri which is a famous folk dance of Tripura belongs to the Riang tribe. They are the expert of this dance art. This age old culture dance is performed on festive occasion like Hojagiri festivals, Durga Puja or Laxmi Puja. Certain articles are required for a performance. They are earthen pitcher, oil lamp or candle, bottle, hankerships or flowers, Bailing (it is a plate made of bamboo) and metal plates. The speciality of this dance is that only lower half of the body is moved. The performers move metal plates while standing on a pitcher. Sometimes a bottle will be placed on the head with an oil lamp. All along the dance they twist their waist with much finesse like a snake to make their onlookers spellbound. It is the act of balance. This dance is performed by only women. They group themselves in four to six members per group. The male members have the responsibility of singing and playing the instrument used in the particular dance perforamnce. Kham which is actually a

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Padayani: A ritualistic dance which worships Goddess Kali

4/27/2013 10:09:00 PM

Padayani also known as padeni is a ritualistic dance form which is very popular in kerala.It is known as a ritualistic dance because of two reasons. First it is performed in temples and second it is performed to worship Goddess Kali. In the ancient time it was performed to heal the illness of a sick person whose disease could not healed by medical facilitites. The word padayani literally means military formations or rows of army, but in this folk art we have mainly a series of divine and semi-divine characters potrayed in the dance. Different facial expressions and gestures are used to express the mood of the character potrayed by the dancer. The major characters of this form are Yakshi, Kaalari means Lord Shiva, Bhairavi means Bhadrakali and Pakshi means bird.The dance movements are different for different kolams (characters). The dance movements are an identification mark for the characters. In addition to that specific leg movements and footsteps are also associated with ever

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Dalkhai: A folk dance expressing love

4/25/2013 1:09:00 AM

Dalkhai is a popular folk dance which is very popular among the tribals of Odisha. It is performed on festive occasions like Dusserah, Bhaijauntia, Phangun Puni and Nuakhai. It is a way of worshipping Goddess Durga. ‘Dalkhai’ in Oriya language means ‘lady love’. It is known as Dalkhai because in the beginning and end of every stanza the word is used as an address to a girl friend. The theme for this dance is love story so this dance potrays the love story of Radha and Krishna. In addition to that it presents some of the episodes from the tales of Ramayana and Mahabaharata. The dance is performed by the ummarried girls. The ladies group themseleve. Each group consists of four to six members.  The dance movements consist of placing the legs close together and bending their knees. Another step is to sit half down and move forward and backward on the tune of music. The group perfrom this steps in circles. The circle moved in clockwise or anticlock wis

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Karakattam: An act of balancing pots with body and arms movements

4/23/2013 12:32:00 AM

Karakattam is an ancient and major dance form which originated in the state of Tamilnadu.  It is known as ‘Kudakoothu’. ‘Karakam’ means water pot. In this folk dance the dancers balance the water pot on their head while dancing. It is performed to praise the rain Goddess ‘Mariamman’. This village originated dance form is performed in the month of August because people believe that Goddess ‘Mariamman’ protects them from diseases like small pox and and cholera. This dance from can be classified into two type. First is known as Aatta Karagam which is usually performed in temples as spiritual offering to the Goddess. Second is called Sakthi Karagam which is performed on stages for entertainment. It is a symbol of joy and happiness. The dance is much more than just balancing pots on the heads. It depends on the skills of the dancer. Pots on the heads, the dancer dances on the edges of a shallow vessel and revolved it with his feet

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Koothu Dance: A theme based dance and narrative comedy act

4/22/2013 12:34:00 AM

Koothu Dance is one of the prominent and oldest dance forms of Kerela. This dance is a combination of acting and dancing. Koothu means dance.The principles used in this dance form is closely related to the principles laid in the Bharatha's Natya Sastra. This dance is 1800 years old. It is mainly performed in temples and the audience was mostly restricted to the upper class Hindus. A dance performance consists of narration and facial expression. Facial expressions are very important in this dance. The dancer narrates tales from the epics and interprets them in Malayalam. The dance consists of the gestures and postures derived from Natya Sastra. In this performance, the performer has to embarrass the watchers. Humor is required to achieve this task. The dance is also a comedy act. The performance begins a prayer after temple. The performer has a great freedom so that he can amuse the audience with the performance.   It is a theme based dance. Themes are based on Lord Krishna.

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Charkula: A popular dance of Braj region

4/19/2013 7:59:00 AM

Charkula is one of the most popular and a traditional folk dance of Uttarpradesh. It is popular in Braj region of Uttar Pradesh. Due to its ultimate popularity it is compared with Kathak one of the eight classical dance forms of India. Braj region has a dense population of the Hindus so this dance is popular among the Brahman Community of the Villages. It is especially performed on the third day after Holi. There are some mythological stories related to this dance. The origin belongs to the Krishna era. This dance celebrates the happy victory over Indra by Krishna and the cowherd community of Braj.  The story describes that Lord Krishna raised the mountain Govardhan on his little finger and saved the life of the villagers living there. Second story goes like this. It states that when Radha was born her mother ran outside with Charkula or oil-lamps on her head to deliver the new to the whole village. These facts make it an ancient dance form. During the dance performance

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Singhi Chham: Folk Dance of the Bhutias of Sikkim

4/19/2013 1:53:00 AM

Singhi Chham is a folk dance which is also known as Loin Dance is very popular in the Indian state of Assam. It is especially associated with the Bhutias of Sikkim. It is mostly performed in the month of September to show their gratitude towards the third highest peak Kanchenjunga.  This mountain range looks like a white loin in the snowy season which guards the state form unwanted hazards. This magnificent dance is also a representation of their culture. This is an ancient dance form which originated about two and a half centuries ago. There are two artists needed to perform this dance. They have to get inside the costume of the lion. One artist is at the front part. It is the head of the lion. Second is at the back.  The legs of the dancer positioned on the front become the two forelegs of the lion and the two legs of the dancer positioned at the back form the hind legs. In addition to that they have to wear a costume that weighs approximately eighteen kilograms. 

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Ghumura: An ancient folk dance of Kalahandi

4/18/2013 5:41:00 AM

Ghumura is a folk dance which originated in Kalahandi district which is situated in Orrisa. It gets its name from a home appliance. It is the bowl of soil is called Ghum. U stands for Lord Shiva and Ra is the description of sound. It is a pot which is used by the women to store water. Some say that it is a tribal dance because the clothes worn by the performers resembles to the tribal living there. There is another group who things that it is a classical dance because it bears some resemblance with other classical dance forms of India.   The are many historical and Archaeological aspects which supports the origin of the dance form. As per the description found in Mahabharata, Ghumura was being used by both Gods and Goddesses as a musical instrument during war. Ghumura was a war music of Ravana, the king of Lanka. Chandi Puran describes that Goddess Durga asked the Gods to lend their weapons to Kill the evil demon king Mahisasur. Per-historic period cave painting discovered fro

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Cheraw dance: An extraordinary dance with great precision and skill

4/12/2013 10:57:00 AM

Cheraw dance is one of the oldest performed in the state of Mizoram. It is the most colourful and distinctive dance of the Mizos. It reflects the culture of the people habitant in this part of India. People believe that this can has a foreign origin because the ancestors came from far east Aisa and later became the permanent citizen of this place. In addition to that some people believe that this dance came into existence in early 1st century A.D. These dances are performed on certain festivals, marriages or any other occasions. In earlier days, the dance was performed to ensure a safe passage for the departed souls of mothers who died at childbirth, so that she may enter the abode safely. Nowadays, Cheraw dance is performed on any occasion. It is also performed on the occasion of Buhza Aih which means bumper harvest by an individual family. One of the peculiar features of the dance is that bamboo sticks are used during the performance. That’s why it is also known as the

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Kalbelia: A dance close to the nature

4/11/2013 4:39:00 AM

Kalbelia is one of an aesthetic dance form which is very famous in the state of Rajasthan. This dance is performed by the tribe of the same name. This is an ancient tribe and the community is very similar to that of serpents. Their main occupation is snake catching and trading them. This dance form is an integral part of this community. In addition to that it reflects their living and culture. This dance is a group effort. Both men and women play their part in a performance. This dance is a representation of joy. Due to this this dance is performed on festive occasions or a cultural event. The actual fun of their performance can be enjoyed at the gatherings somewhere around the festival of Holi.   The dance movements have a similarity to the movements of a snake. It is characterized by rhythmic stomps, hip movements and kicks, ever-changing hand movements, spinning, dancing on the knees, and dancing with partners. As the dance progresses the pace of the rhythm goes o

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Lavani: A theme based dance spreading social messages to the people

4/10/2013 6:25:00 AM

Lavani is one of the most important folk dance forms of India. It is a combination of song and dance. The word Lavani comes from the word lavanya which means beauty. This dance form is the main contributor to the Marathi culture. This theme based dance originated in the region of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. It came into origin in 1560. It was on its full charm during the Peshwa rule(1700-1900). During the Peshwa rule  the dance was used to boost the morale of the tired soldiers. Some scholars suggest that this dance form originated in the temples. As the name suggest the dance reflects the feminine beauty.   It is a theme based dance dealing with different matters like society religion, politics and romance. It also highlights which includes love between man and woman in various forms. Married wife's menstruation, sexual union between husband and wife, their love, soldier's amorous exploits, the wife's bidding farewell to the husband who is going to join the war

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Yakshagana: A theme based dance drama based on secular and epics stories

4/9/2013 4:14:00 AM

Yakshagana is a popular dance drama which originated in the 16th century in the state of Karnataka. Yakshagana means songs of the Yakshas. According to Hindu mythology Yakshas are demi gods and the attendants of Kubera. This folk based theme dance is a combination of song, dance and drama. In the ancient times it was known as Bahunatakas. This dance form was influenced by great dancers and singers known as the Yakshas or Jakkulas. Latter on it got the name Yakshagana. As it is a theme based dance the performances are based on stories from the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas. Every dance performance is unique because every dance performance is based on secular to mythological stories on different subjects. In the beginning, Yakshagana was performed by only a single dancer. It was during the 17th and 18th century, that it regained its current form of a dance drama where various characters were introduced. The female roles are portrayed by male actors. A dance performan

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Raut Nacha: A comical Dance form depicts gratitude towards Lord Krishna

4/8/2013 1:02:00 AM

Raut Nacha is a popular dance form of Chhattisgarh. The folk dance form is an essential part of the tribal living there. It represents two aspects. First the folk heritage of the state and second the cultural heritage of the state. The state is known for a very rich Cultural heritage. It has its unique style of dance, cuisine, and music. This dance form unites different tribal of the state.  This dance is performed during the Deepawali festival and continues for seven days. This dance is performed by the people of “yadavs/yaduvanshis” community. The dance is symbol of gratitude towards Lord Krishna. He helped the yadavs to overpower the army of evil king Kansa. The dance is performed in order to show the happiness of victory of good over the evil. The dance form closely resembles the “Raas Leela” dance form. The best occasion to perform the dance is the time of “dev udhni ekadashi”. It is believed that it is time of awakening of Gods after

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Folk Dance of Jharkhand

4/5/2013 4:13:00 AM

A dance performance is not meant for entertainment. It can also express one's feelings, some story or any other event. A dance can also reflect the culture, traditions and beliefs of people living in that region. The same is also true with the different folk dances of Jharkhand.   Karma Munda It is one of the most popular folk dances amongst the tribal habitant in the state. It gets its name from the Karma tree which is the sign of fertility in the state. Tribal people of this state worship this tree. The people believe that it brings good luck and prosperity. The folk dance is performed in the month of August during the Karma festival. This dance can be performed by both men and women. The festival starts with the plantation of trees. The procedure is started with the females who offered a handful amount of barley to the males there and then those offer it to the Karma tree. Drums are used in the procedure which is beaten by the males there in a very rhythmic tune.  All

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Kinnauri Nati: A Popular Folk Dance of Himachal Pradesh

4/4/2013 4:20:00 AM

Kinnauri Nati is a folk dance which originated in Himachal Pradesh. This dance is closely related to nature. It is performed on the occasion of New Year. This dance adds a majestic look to the celebration. In addition to that it has become an important part of fairs and festival celebrated in this state. The dance is the representation of the happiness gained after a good harvest. The inherent theme of Kinnaur Dance is much similar to that of the Bhangra Dance of Punjab. The dance lacks pace but the sequences make it elegant to watch. The dance moves depicts the all the activities involved in sowing the crop and reaping it. The elegant movements of the dancers represent the beauty of the state. In addition to that it presents the gentleness of the hilly breeze, slowly flowing rivers and the rhythmic swaying of trees.   Earlier this dance was performed by men only. Now it is opened to the women also which makes it magnificent to watch. The costume of the men consists of the

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Bihu: Folk dance of happiness

4/3/2013 4:39:00 AM

  Bihu is a folk dance form which belongs to the state of Assam. It is very popular and has become a part of the people habitant in the state. This dance is performed during the Bihu festival which is celebrated thrice a year. Rongali which is the biggest of the three Bihu festivals makes the Bihu dance more special. This festival is celebrated in the middle of April. This is the time when the spring season is on its full charm. This dance form is a mirror of Assamese culture. This dance is a celebration of Good harvest.   There is no historic evidence when this dance form originated but it was first cited to be when Ahom king Rudra Singha invited Bihu dancers to perform at the Ranghar fields sometime around 1694 on the occasion of Rongali Bihu.   This is a group dance. It is performed by both men and women. When the dance starts the female dancer group themselves into line or circle. The males dancers and musicians enter the performance area first and form a st

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Fugdi:Folk dance form of Konkan region

3/28/2013 12:40:00 AM

  Fugdi or "Foogdi" is the most popular folk dance form of  Konkan region. It is performed during Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Vrata or towards the end of other dances like Dhalo. It is also performed during various religious and social occasions. It is generally performed during the month of Bhaadrapada, an occasion for the women to take a temporary break from their normal, monotonous schedule. In the Konkan region the women fetch water from long distances.   During the dance performance the women sing and dance. This dance is has different variation. In first variation it is performed in circle. In other it is performed in rows. In villages there is a tradition of performing this dance in circle where in the forest region it is performed in rows.   The speciality of this dance is that no songs are sung during this dance performance. They use their hands for clapping. During the dance performance the women move in the cir

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Dandiya Raas: An honour to Goddess Durga

3/26/2013 4:52:00 AM

Dandiya Raas Dance is a popular folk Dance of Vrindavan, India. It is the dramatization of a mock fight between the Goddess and Mahishasura - the mighty demon-king. The sticks of the dance represent the sword of Durga. In addition to that scenes of Holi, and lila of Krishna and Radha can be seen during this dance. It is organised during the nine days of navratri festival. It is the featured and most popular dance of Navratri evenings in Gujarat. It is performed in other states to honour Goddess Durga. It is performed before Aarti       .   Dandia is a dance form usually performed in a group, by both men and women. It is performed at social functions and on stage. The main feature of Rasa is dancing in a circle by men and woman, to the accompaniment of musical instruments and keeping time either by clapping or beating of two sticks. The number of dancers go from 8,16, 32 up to 64 couples, who also sing the song. Grace and slow movements are just as importan

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Giddha: Mimicry of Emotion

3/24/2013 11:59:00 PM

Giddha is an evergreen, popular folk dance of Punjab. It is known from the scriptures that this dance form is derived from an ancient dance known as ring dance which is very much similar to bhangra. It is stylistically simple, free-style and spontaneous dance form. This dance has a female dominance. It is a highly creative dance which reflects feminine beauty. Women perform this dance mainly at festive or social occasions.   This dance is performed in circles. All the female participants gather in a circle. One of the dancers sits in the circle with a drum. During the performance all the participants move in a circle.   The swinging and twisting the body, shaking the shoulders while bending knees make this dance distinguishable from other dance forms. One can identify Giddha when they see the women clapping their hands during the dance performance. Clapping is one of the prominent features of this dance form. The movement of legs is also a

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Garba: A colourful, musical and energetic folk dance of Gujarat

3/22/2013 3:15:00 AM

  Garba Dance is a popular folk Dance of Gujarat. It is the leading dance of women in this part of the country. It is more similar to the classical Indian dances such as Bharatanatyam and Odissi. The word Garba comes from Sanskrit. Garbha means "womb" and Deep "a small earthenware lamp". This dance has some similarities to other spiritual dances, such as those of Sufi culture.  This dance is performed by ladies on the Navaratri days which are auspicious days of Goddess Durga in the Winter Months.   This dance is organised in an open space i.e in a club or at the street corners. The participants stand in a circle, around an idol or photograph of the goddess that is kept in the center. The dance in mood begins with beats in slow tempo. As the dance proceeds, the energy level of the participants increases due to the fast beat and tempo of the music. The music is synchronized by a drummer who stands in the center of the dancers. The dance can be of

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Bhangra: A dance of enthusiasm and playfulness

3/21/2013 4:16:00 AM

  Bhangra a dance of enthusiasm and playfulness originated in the 18th century in Punjab. It got its name from one of the major products of the harvest—bhang (hemp) and that is how bhangra drew its name. This traditional and lively form of folk dance is conducted during the harvest season. This dance is an expression of good harvest. Bhangra is considered the king of dances. It is also performed on the day of Baisakhi.   It is performed in a team, involves co-ordination, timing and technique amongst the various team members. The people taking part in this dance move around the circle. At the centre of the circle the drummer is standing. He beats the drums with two sticks. The music of the drum adds enthusiasm to this dance.   Bhangra is one of the most significant traditions of the Punjabi culture because it symbolizes the imagination, talent, potential and charisma of Punjab’s people. Illustrating the sowing of seeds, hoeing, cutting of wheat and

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Sattriya: A mythological theme based dance

3/20/2013 6:12:00 AM

Sattriya is a classical dance which is devotional in nature. It originated in in the 15th century in Assam. The person who contributed in its evolution was the great Vaishnavite saint Shri Sankardev. It is known that he was a social reformer and a great performing artist. It got its name from “sattras” which were Assam's monasteries setup by saint Shri Sankardev for the preservation and propagation of this dance form. After sometime it got the name Sattriya Nritya. It got it base from Ankia Nat or one-act play. These plays depicted the life of Lord Krishna & Lord Rama and numerous dances. Sattriya is a dance form in which music, dance and drama are rolled into one. The theme of this dance form is mythological stories. This dance presented the stories in a simple and enjoyable manner. In the present the themes have extended from mere mythological stories but the main purpose is to make the dance accessi

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Odissi: The oldest dance form of Indian

3/19/2013 2:07:00 AM

  Odisha which is an eastern state of India is known as the home of Odissi, is acknowledge as the eight classical dance forms. On the basis of archaeological evidences found in the caves of Udayagiri and Khandagiri near Bhubaneshwar it is evident that it originated 2nd century B.C. This fact makes it the oldest surviving dance of the modern India. Evidences also suggest that it originated as a court dance. This dance form influenced other communities like Jain’s and Buddhism. Initially it was performed as a temple dance. It was performed by a community called Maharis who dedicated their lives in the services of God.  This dance was used to worship Lord Shiva who is known as master dancer himself. He is also known as Nataraj, the Cosmic Lord of Dance.   Facial expressions, hand gestures and body movements are the main constituents of this dance form which reflects certain form of feelings. The torso movement is very important and is an uni

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Mohiniyattam: A dance of the enchantress

3/18/2013 1:17:00 AM

  Mohiniyattam which originated in 16th century is a classical dance form which has strings attached to the southern state of Kerala India. It is thought to be closely related to ' Bharathanatyam ' and ' Kathakali '. Some say that it is a fusion of these two classical dance forms. History also describes that it originated as temple dance.   Mohiniyattam is composed of two words “Mohini” and “attam”. “Mohini” mean a woman who enchants onlookers and “attam” graceful and sensuous body movements. The combination of these two words says that it is the “dance of an enchantress”. It is clear from it name that it is performed by females only.  There are two mythological stories associated with this classical dance. In the first story Lord Vishnu changed himself into a very beautiful dancer named Mohini and attracted the demons away from the nectar which was obtained by the proce

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Manipuri: A temple traditional dance style

3/15/2013 5:04:00 AM

Manipuri is a very beautiful classical dance which has strings attached to the state of Manipur. It is an integral part of the people living in the mountains. It has become a custom to keep a dance performance during weddings and homage to ancestors.  The origin of this dance relates to a ritual dance Lai Haroba but in the present scenario it has gained more popularity than it pre successor because of high artistic and technical standards. Latter it gained popularity in other parts of India by the efforts of Guru Rabindranath Tagore. This dance is truly devotional in nature. Watching this dance gives a spiritual experience. It is also one of the most meaningful dances of the world. In addition to that it is mostly performed in groups but solo performances are limited in number. Two dance styles of Manipuri are very popular. First is Lasya – the female style and second is tandava – the male style. There are different form

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Kuchipudi: A classical dance form

3/14/2013 1:13:00 AM

Kuchipudi is the classical dance form which belongs to Andhra Pradesh, India. It derived it name from the village of Kuchelapuram, a small village about 65 kilometres from Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh. A legend is related to the association with the origin of Kuchipudi. He was an orphan and was raised by the villagers. He was married in the childhood. Later he went to Udipi for Vedic studies.  During his study he acquired the name Sidhendra Yogi. When he returned to village the villagers told him to take the family responsibilities on his shoulder. He has to swim to reach the village where his family was staying. As he was swimming he realised that he is tired and can't swim any further. He prayed to the god for strength. Somehow he reached the shore of the river and thanked God. Latter he devoted his life to the service of God. He then settled in the village of Kuchelapuram and started teaching. Kuchipudi is group performance which requires a troop of dancers and ac

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Kathakali: A Classical Art

3/13/2013 4:28:00 AM

  Kathakali belongs to south Indian state of Kerala where it originated in the 17th century. This dance form has its roots related to the Hindu mythology. It means a story play or a dance drama. The prominent features of this dance form is attractive make-up of characters, elaborate costumes, detailed gestures and well-defined body movements presented in tune with the anchor playback music. It is a popular belief that kathakali originated from "Krishnanattam".Now a days it has improved by the addition of new looks, refined gestures and added themes.   Kathakali is a classical art form which is characterise by the movements of the hands, facial expressions and bodily movements. The movements of the hands are called mudras. It is a sign language used to tell the story.     The dance performances are religious in nature. They are typically influenced by Mahabharata, the Ramayana and the ancient scriptures known as the Puranas. The dancers wear

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Kathak: A classical dance form

3/12/2013 12:26:00 AM

  Kathak is the major classical dance form of northern India. The word Kathak is derived from the Sanskrit word “katha” meaning story. This dance form reflects the art of storytelling. Kathak has roots attached to the ancient times where professional known as kathakas or story tellers used to show their dancing skills. They used to recite or sing stories from epics and mythology with some elements of dance. They used their dancing and acting skill to present some parts of the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, the Puranas of Sanskrit literature. In the 15th-16th century at the time the Bhakti movement, Rasalilas had a tremendous impact on Kathak. Kathak was used to narrate tales from the lives of Radha-Krishna. In addition to that these as kathakas or story tellers included the tales of Radha-Krishna childhood. In this times Kathak was related to devotional performances.   There was a major shift in Kathak during the mugal period. Before this period it was used

Posted by: Desievite Admin

Bharatanatyam: An Indian classical Dance

3/11/2013 12:53:00 AM

  Bharatanatyam is a classical Indian dance which has roots attached to southern state of Indian Tamil Nadu. It is one of the oldest dance forms of India. Bharatanatya gets its name from the initial of the following words 'Bha' - Bhavam (means expression), 'Ra' - Ragam (means music), 'Ta - Talam (means beat or rhythm) and Natyam (means dance). Bharatanatyam is knwon for its grace, purity, tenderness, and poses.It was known as "Daasiyattam" since performed by Devadasies in temples of Tamil Nadu long ago.Today, it is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles and is practiced by male and female dancers all over the world.Bharatnatyam can be found out in many scriptures in which apsaras are found out to perform Bharatanatyam the heavenly dance. It is based on Natya Shastra, the Bible of the classical Indian dance.It is a dance which pleases the senses. It is a dance which is realated to Bhakti. It was brought to the stage for public performance after 1930.

Posted by: Desievite Admin

View More...
twitter account facebook account Google Plus account Pinterest account blogspot account
Copyright DesiEvite.com, 2010-2021, Contactus Email : DesiEviteAdmin@DesiEvite.com