Kalbelia
Encyclopedia
Kalbelia is one of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan
, performed by a tribe of the same name.
religion. They trace their ancestry from Kanlipar, the 12th disciple of Guru Gorakhnath
. The largest number of the population of Kalbelias is in Pali district
, then Ajmer
, Chittorgarh
and Udaipur district
. They live a nomadic life.
Male participants take care of the musical part of the dance. They use the different instruments (Pungi, Dufli, "Been", "Khanjari", "Morchang", "khuralio" and "Dholak") to create the rhythm on which the dancers perform. As the performance goes on, the rhythm becomes faster and faster, and hence, the dance. It looks like they are made of rubber. Their perfect movements to the enchanting tune of musical instruments is a treat to the eyes.
The Kalbelia dancers (mainly females) wear long black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. As they spin in a circle, their bodies sway acrobatically, sinuously to the accompaniment of the Pungi, the Dufli and the plaintive notes of the "been", the wooden instrument of the snake charmers. As the beat increases to such high pitch, free flowing voice, while others join in the dance. Their dance movement resembles that of the snakes.
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
, performed by a tribe of the same name.
Kalbelia Tribe
The Kalbelias were known for their frequent movement from one place to another in ancient times. Their main occupation is catching snakes and trading snake venom. Hence, the dance movements and the costumes of their community bear a resemblance to that of the serpents. They are also known as Sapera, Jogira or Jogi. They follow HinduHindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
religion. They trace their ancestry from Kanlipar, the 12th disciple of Guru Gorakhnath
Gorakshanath
Gorakshanath was an 11th to 12th century Hindu Nath yogi, connected to Shaivism as one of the two most important disciples of Matsyendranath, the other being Caurangi. There are varying records of the spiritual descent of Gorakshanath. All name Adinath and Matsyendranath as two teachers preceding...
. The largest number of the population of Kalbelias is in Pali district
Pali district
Pali District is a district of the state of Rajasthan in western India. The town of Pali is the district headquarters.-History:...
, then Ajmer
Ajmer
Ajmer , formerly written as Ajmere, is a city in Ajmer District in Rajasthan state in India. Ajmer has a population of around 800,000 , and is located west of the Rajasthan state capital Jaipur, 200 km from Jodhpur, 274 km from Udaipur, 439 km from Jaisalmer, and 391 km from...
, Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh
Chittorgarh is a city and a municipality in Rajasthan state of western India. It lies on the Berach River, a tributary of the Banas, and is the administrative headquarters of Chittorgharh District and a former capital of the Sisodia clans of Rajputs of Mewar...
and Udaipur district
Udaipur district
Udaipur District is one of the 33 districts of Rajasthan state in western India. The historic city of Udaipur is the administrative headquarters of the district....
. They live a nomadic life.
Kalbelia Dance
The Kalbelia dance, performed to celebrate any joyful moment in the community, is an integral part of their culture.Male participants take care of the musical part of the dance. They use the different instruments (Pungi, Dufli, "Been", "Khanjari", "Morchang", "khuralio" and "Dholak") to create the rhythm on which the dancers perform. As the performance goes on, the rhythm becomes faster and faster, and hence, the dance. It looks like they are made of rubber. Their perfect movements to the enchanting tune of musical instruments is a treat to the eyes.
The Kalbelia dancers (mainly females) wear long black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. As they spin in a circle, their bodies sway acrobatically, sinuously to the accompaniment of the Pungi, the Dufli and the plaintive notes of the "been", the wooden instrument of the snake charmers. As the beat increases to such high pitch, free flowing voice, while others join in the dance. Their dance movement resembles that of the snakes.
See also
- GhoomarGhoomarGhoomar is a traditional women's folk dance of Rajasthan, India which was developed by the Bhil tribe and was adopted by other Rajasthani communities...
: Ghoomar is a traditional women's folk dance of Rajasthan, India. - Rajasthani peopleRajasthani peopleRajasthani people are the native inhabitants of Rajasthan region of India. They form an ethnic group which is a result of assimilation of Scytho-Dravidian, Aryo-Dravidian, Indo-Aryan, Indo-Scythian, Indo-Greeks, Indo-Iranians and Austro-Asiatic ancestries...
- RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
- Pushkar LakePushkar LakePushkar Lake or Pushkar Sarovar is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus. The Hindu scriptures describe as it as "Tirtha-Raj" – the king of pilgrimage sites related to a water-body and relate it to the...
:is located in the town of Pushkar in Ajmer district of the Rajasthan state of western India. Pushkar Lake is a sacred lake of the Hindus.