Ghoomar – Famous Social Folk Dance of Rajasthan

Ghoomar – Famous Social Folk Dance of Rajasthan

Ghoomar – Rajasthan’s Popular Folk Dance

Dance is an expression of human emotion as much as music and it is found in almost limitless.

The desert region of Rajasthan is famous for the color and vibrancy of its folk forms. Each region in Rajasthan has its own form of folk dance. Tribal areas have maintained these folk dances which are often performed for special occasions.

The famous Ghoomar,  Rajasthan’s popular folk dance gets its name from ‘ghoomna’, the pirouetting which displays the spectacular colors of the flowing ‘ghaghara’, the long skirt of the Rajasthani women.

There is an amazing grace as the skirt flair slowly while the women folk twirl in circles, their faces covered with the help of the veil. Their measured steps and various graceful inclinations of body, beating palms or snapping fingers at particular cadences while singing some lilting songs.

Women from all age group participate in Ghoomer dance. At times this dance may continue for hours or the whole night. While dancing, the dancers move in a circular direction with clockwise and anti-clockwise steps. The performers sometimes unite their hands and even clap their hand in-between.

The performers move gracefully on the beat of the songs in synchronizing steps. As the tempo of the dance increases, the dancers swirl fleetly.

Traditional Ritual in Rajasthani People

The Ghoomar dance is the characteristic dance of the Bhils and a community dance of the Rajputs, also which only the women traditionally perform. It is considered as one of the traditional rituals among this community. So, on the occasion of marriage, a bride is expected to dance Ghoomar after being welcomed at her husband’s home.