subject: Song And Dance - Marwar Festival [print this page] Devoted to music and dance, the Marwar Festival is held annually for two days when the moon is full during the month of Ashwin, falling in September or October. Dancers act out the lives and legends of Rajasthan folk heroes of various communities through ancient dance forms and music. Appropriately the festival takes place at the Mehrangarh Fort, Umaid Bhavan Palace and Madore that provide the perfect backdrops.
Among the many dances performed is the Ghoomar, a community dance where women in colourful skirts form a circle and twirl gracefully to the accompaniment of snapping fingers, beating palms and song. Kachchi Ghodi or horse dance is performed by men in elaborate costumes on life size horse figures imitating the movements of a rider. Kathak is a classical dance distinct from the other kathak dance forms. It is performed by men and women to the accompaniment of music played on traditional instruments. Women in embroidered long black skirts spin in circles in the Sapera or the snake charmer's dance. Terah talli is a devotional dance performed to honour the folk hero Baba Ramdeo. Dance moves include striking cymbals tied to various parts of the bodies of women dancers with cymbals they hold in their hands.
Executing complicated foot work and hand movements while balancing brass pots on the head is characteristic of the Chari. The Bhawai is a similar dance but involves 6 to 9 pots in varying sizes. The drum dance featuring a range of traditional drums and the Gair featuring men in pleated tunics that open out during the whirling movements of the dance are the other popular dances performed at the festival. The costumes of flaring ghaagra cholis with mirror work, beaded head dresses, veils with mirror work, multihued turbans, embroidered tunics and the skill of the dancers are what make the dances of Rajasthan memorable. The dancers are accompanied by music played on traditional stringed instruments such as the sarangi and ektaras, flutes, various types of drums and other folk instruments. The Marwar Festival not only promotes traditional Rajasthan dance forms and music but keeps the myths and legends of an ancient culture alive. Horse racing, polo matches and camel races form part of the festival.
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