This Folk Dance Of Rajasthan Is Inspired By The Snakes Of Desert – Kalbeliya Dance, A Powerful and energetic Folklore

In the heart of Rajasthan lies the cultural beauty of many hidden art forms that might seize your gaze for a moment. Apart from the Amber Palace, Hawa Mahal, and the royal forts, there is so much more to the culturally rich Rajasthan that you might not discover on your usual trip. Mad4India is on a journey to take you to the rhythmic world of kalbeliya dance, where each spin tells a story and every step echoes the legacy of Rajasthan’s cultural heritage.

After this, you might take “Padharo Mahre Desh” seriously!

Must experience folk Dance Forms of Rajasthan

History of Kalbeliya Folk Dance

Kalbeliya, the most sensuous dance form of Rajasthan, has its roots in the nomadic lifestyle of the Kalbeliya tribe of Rajasthan, who used to travel from one place to another in search of work. This dance form started initially as a way of celebrating the nomadic Kalbeliya tribe and expressing their happiness and sorrow.

Know everything about the Kalbeliya tribe of Rajasthan

The Kalbeliyas are a snake charmer community from the Thar desert in Rajasthan that performs the Kalbeliya folk dance. It is a nomadic community of people who sometimes introduce themselves as “Sapera” or “Sadhu”. Their traditional business and main source of earnings were catching snakes and selling snakes’ venom. Traditionally, the men of the Kalbeliya community used to carry cobras in cane baskets door-to-door in villages while their women sang and danced beside them for entertainment purposes.

But, after the enactment of the Wildlife Act in 1972, they were forced to leave their profession of handling snakes and ever since, the performing artists of the Kalbeliya community have been a major source of income for them. They claim to be the followers and descendants of the Guru Kanipa, one of the nine naths who sit with Lord Shiva on Mount Kailash.

Significance of Kalbeliya Dance of Rajasthan

Kalbeliya dance is an integral part of the Kalbeliya community and is generally performed for any joyous celebration. Kalbeliya people often sing songs inspired by the stories from the folklore of Rajasthan. The Kalbeliya dance of Rajasthan is only performed by the females, as the women are engrossed in replicating the snake movements in a powerful twirling manner while the men sing and play instruments for them.

The original tribal music of this folk dance disseminates mythological knowledge from ancient times. There are different showcases during the performances of the Kalbeliya dance of Rajasthan as the performers balance their body weight over a steel plate, bend over to pick up a sword from their mouth, or even dance on the set of swords!

Costumes of Kalbeliya Folk Dance

A matter of pride and the marker of identities for Kalbeliyas, this dance form has vibrant costumes replicating serpents. The attire worn by the females is a flowing black skirt in which the upper body cloth is called angrakhi, which is paired with a full flared lehenga and odhani dupatta. All these clothes are made of colorful fabrics like silk and cotton with red and black hues all over and a complimenting silver border. They wear tribal silver jewelry to add overall beauty to their dance form, with a main focus on their waistband.

Interesting facts about Kalbeliya Dance

The most energetic folk dance of Rajasthan, the Kalbeliya dance, has some interesting facts attached to it. Let’s have a look.

• Till 2010, there were no training studios for kalbeliya dance in Rajasthan, as youngsters were expected to learn by watching their seniors perform.
• In 2010, UNESCO’s representative of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity named Kalbeliya dance and songs on their list.
• The Kalbeliya community believes that the ‘Surma’ made from a snake’s venom will prevent them from losing their eyesight at any point in life.
• The tribal Kalbeliya women make the dresses they wear during the performances by themselves.

Kalbeliya Dance Festival

Jaipur is one state that aims to preserve and celebrate its heritage in a very vibrant manner forever. The pink city gets flooded with tourists during the Kalbeliya dance festival, which is a vital part of the kalbeliya culture and is mainly celebrated by the Kalbeliya community in Thar Desert, Rajasthan. The major attractions of this cultural festival are tribal women performing kalbeliya folk dance with men accompanying them with traditional musical instruments like Pungi, Khoralio etc.

During this festival, the locals also perform some acrobats, which makes the show even more interesting. The dates might vary but it usually occurs during the transition from summers to winters in Rajasthan. To witness the epitome of beauty and ancient culture, you should surely visit Rajasthan once!

In modern times, the Kalbeliya dance, with its vibrant energy, unique movements, and cultural richness, has gained popularity beyond the borders of Rajasthan, India. This fast-evolving world and the hustle for life is taking the new generations away from the rich culture and history of India but somewhere in the tribal areas, we still produce hidden gems. So, make sure to rejuvenate your soul by visiting the tribal people of Rajasthan and embracing the beauty of their culture and tradition with mesmerizing folklore!

For copyright purposes, links of the feature image – Canva, Wikipedia.

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If you also love and adore dancing and this blog held your interest, then do give a read to the story of This Belly Dancer’s Father Once Threw A Stick At Her Now Flaunts Her Achievements To All, That Is What We Call Success.

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