Gair dance is very popular in Rajasthan. They perform in a circle with wooden sticks. Men wear long, pleated tunics that open out into full-length skirts. Men and women dance together. A group posed for us
It was a riot of colours at Shekhawati Utsav 2015 as hundreds of Rajasthan folk vocalists and dancers thronged Momasar, a 500-year-old village that hosted the two-day festival last weekend. We travelled all the way to the village from Delhi to witness the cultural extravaganza that has a rich history in the past. Jaipur Virasat Foundation organises the festival every year providing a platform to the folk artistes to present their endangered culture. Interestingly, the festival has also become a tool to create awareness on several contemporary issues and restore the dying the art forms of the tribal communities. We saw many foreign and Indian students understanding the mode, of this festival besides enjoying the cultural events. Here are some of the most intriguing moments from the event.
A delegation of American students attend concert of Jamuna and Mali Devi at a haveliTeraah Taali dancers performing at the finaleGair dance is very popular in Rajasthan. They perform in a circle with wooden sticks. Men wear long, pleated tunics that open out into full-length skirts. Men and women dance togetherTerah Taali dancer’s last touch-upGarasia dancers wear colourful costumes. They even embroider their names on their skirtsManganiyars chilling before the showTerah Taali dancer gets ready backstageA young Bhavai performer from Momasar village dancing with earthen pots on her head. She thrilled the audience by dancing on the rim of a brass thali, broken glass and the edge of the swordTerah Taali is one of the most popular folk dances in India. It is practised by Kamad community, mainly from Rajasthan, where males and female dancers perform in honour of deity Baba Ramdev. Instruments such as Tambura, dholak, taal, khanjiri and others are used in in devotional compositions. Ladies tie majiras and use props like talwars to perform. This performer posed for usBhopa Bhopi sing in honour of local deity Pabuji Maharaj under moonlight in the fields of MomasarTheatre group Drishya Bharti staged show Bhaktimati Meera Ro Sapno based on mystic poet Meera’s lifeA school girl applying mehendi on the hands of American studentsGirls playing at a competition in school as a part of the festival
