Bhangra / Gidha classes in Chandigarh and Punjab

Bhangra is the most energetic and traditional dance form of India, originated in Punjab. This dance form plays important role during the harvest festival known as Baisakhi. It is the most lively folk dance that gives goosebumps to the viewers and let them shak of the dhol beats.
Gidha is a folk dance of Punjab and known as Lawk Naach in Punbjab. This dance form is mainly performed by women. Gidha is an alive and very colorful dance form. Women sing the traditional music known as “Boliyan”- a couplets sung in Punjabi language and ladies make their moves accordingly to the song.

Energetic, spirited, vivacious, and powerful. Are all these words right to describe the most popular folk dances in India: Bhangra and Gidha?

According to Encyclopedia, Bhangra is defined as “vernacular dance, expressions and recreations of a past or present culture of Punjab”. Bhangra and Gidha were originated in early 1800s by farmers of Punjab. Both Bhangra and Gidha is initiated during the time of the harvest season called Baisakhi / Vaisakhi. These dance forms began to gain popularity around the globe and eventually became disband from the agricultural cycle, entering wedding festivities, fairs, birthday parties, events, and other celebrations.

There are many similarities as well as differences between the two dance forms: dance style, music, instruments, attire, and props involved, elements, innovations / evolvement, and global influence. Bhangra and Gidha have shown an immense amount of evolution, form its traditional roots to now it has being altered to reflect the diversity encompassing it.

Why Bhangra is a great workout?

Why Bhangra require more strength, power, energy, and grace than other dance forms?

  • It spikes the heart rate.
  • It let your muscles work from head to toe
  • It’s almost impossible not to smile and involves face muscles work too.
It’s a dance that brings out hearty feeling of passion and is to evolve and influence many parts of the Western mainstream culture.

Word bhangra is extracted from the word Bhang (hemp), it is a fusion of folk music and dance originated from northwestern region of Punjab, India during mid-twentieth century. In the beginning bhangra was mainly performed by Sikh and Muslim men in the farming seasons of Punjab, during the time of Vaisakhi, theharvest festival. If we talk about now, Bhangra has become part of major celebrations not even in Punjab but also around the world.

Bhangra dancers use keen kicks, jumps, hops, and bends of the body during Bhangra. Types of bhangra dances are:  “Sammi, Jhummar, Luddi, Dhamaal, Sialkot, and many more.”

Another Punjab’s folk dance is Gidha. This dance, is a female dominated dance over Bhangra, and has the same beat of enthusiastic celebration. Gidha is performed during societal events, especially during the harvest. Gidha is a dance that is energy filled movements and evident of elegant agility. Gidha is all about Rhythmic clapping, Bright clothes, and traditional folk songs. It is being performed by the females, the ring dance from which Giddha has taken inspiration, vision, and motivation remains to be performed by ladies by communal junctures.

Bhangra dancer’s bright uniforms is called vardiyaan. These uniforms not only affect the flow of Bhangra moves, but are also allow to assist the dancers to move around with ease. In other words, the parts of the uniform are created with the ideal combination of flexibility. Today, Bhangra dancers wear distinctive uniforms while performing Bhangra.

Men wear:

  • A long-unstitched cloth tied around the dancer’s waist, called a chadar.
  • A kurta, a vest, and a pagh

Women wear:

  • Asalwar, a kurta, a vest, and a chunni
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