Folk dances of Punjab

Punjab is very rich in terms of dance. Punjab has many types of folkal dances, among them Bhangra and Giddha being the most famous. These days, many non-Punjabis are also getting into Punjab’s folkal dances, as you occasionally see a European or Chinese in various Bhangra competions. These non-Punjabis have simply made Punjabi dance a part of their own culture as well.

Bhangra

Originally, Punjabis performed Bhangra to celebrate the sucess of the harvest. Now people perform Bhangra at wedding parties, receptions, birthdays, competitions, and other happy occations. On the day of Baisakhi, April 13, many farmers, engineers, teachers, shop owners, and other sorts of people perform Bhangra. In the villages, with large drums, called dhols, people circle round and round leaping and laughing. Persons of all types of social classes perform Bhangra together. Even the elders occationally join the young to celebrate and dance Bhangra

Sammi  سمّی

Sammi is Punjabi female dance. The dancers dress in bright coloured kurtas and full flowing skirts called lengas. A particular silver hair ornament is associated with this danc

Giddha

Giddha is Punjab’s most famous folkal dance for women. In Giddha, the women enact verses called bolis, folk poetry, and dance. The subject matter of these bolis include everything from arguments with the father-in-law to political affairs. The dance rhythm is set by the dhols and the distinctive hand claps of the dancers. These days, people associate Giddha with Bhangra

Jhumar

This dance for male in PUnjab, This is very much a part of Punjab’s folk heritage. It is a graceful dance based on a Jhumar rhythm. Dancers circle around the drummer and sing graceful lyrics as they dance.

Luddi

Luddi is a victory dance where people do special movements of their heads. The costume is a simple loose shirt. The dancers put one hand on their backs and the other hand in front of their faces. The body movement is sinuous, snake-like. There is also a drummer in the center of the dance.

Dhamal

Similar to bhangra, men dance in a circle

Jaago

Literally Jaago means wake up! When there is a marriage in the house, girls dance through the village streets carrying a pot (gaggar) decorated with lightened candles and sing Jaagu songs. The themes of the songs are social and usually a bit of teasing, often aimed at elders, goes with the song.

Kikli

Women perform this dance in pairs. They cross their arms, hold each other`s hands and whirl around singing folk songs. Sometimes four girls join hands to perform this dance.