History of Rajasthan

RAJASTHAN, is one of the rich historical and cultural heritage state of India.Jaipur the Pink city is the capital of Rajasthan state. Located in the north-west part of India, Rajasthan shares its boarders with UTTAR PRADESH, HARYANA, PUNJAB, GUJRAT, DELHI. Rajasthan spread in the area of 3,42,274 sq km. Rajasthan having four Airports JAIPUR, JODHPUR, UDAIPUR, JAISALMER RAJASTHAN has always fascinating people from all over the world with the grandeur of its forts , palaces And the architecture of its havelis.. The rich folk music and dances have tempted millions of tourists every year to come to fairs and festivals in various parts of the states. The exotic is also a treasure trove of handicrafts and a shopper's paradise.;- The handicrafts of states mainly blue pottery. Lac bangles, stone carvings, thewa, tie and dye and terracotta articles, are unique in many ways. In fact Rajasthan has everything under the sun except beaches and snow-clad mountains. On one hand, there is the vast expanses of the Thar Desert and sand dunes in the west and on the other there are the lakes, hills and greenery around udaipur in the south. There are renowned National Tiger Parks at Ranthambhor and Sariska and a National Bird Park at Ghana, Bharatpur. Rajasthan, a legendary land that lives up to the romance and history spelt by its name. An uncompromising land where impregnable fortress and magnificent palaces rise atop steep hills, and beautiful temples lie in peaceful glades. It has an unusual diversity in all its forms-people, customs, culture, costumes, music Manners, dialects, cuisine and physiography The state is permanent bastion of Indian culture and spirituality, where relic of its golden Heritage are carefully preserved. Rajasthan, the treasure house of history, is also known for its spell-binding scenic beauty, ranging from the golden glow of desert landscape, To the lofty hills of Arrival's.

THE RHYTHMS OF MUSIC AND DANCE There have always been several communities of entertainers in Rajasthan, and they have served at both court and courtyard as they travelled through the state, recounting tales of passion and valour with equal adroitness. For many of these communities, this has been the only source of livelihood. Professional entertainers who performed a particular type of dance, or entertainment, are to be found in the more fertile tracts of eastern Rajasthan. These include the Bhopas(who sing of Pabuji, accompanied by their phad paintaings), Kalbeliya dancers with their rhythmic snake dances, the Kachhi Ghodi dancers, and the puppeteers. Traditionally, families would invite the Bhats, Dholis, Nats and Bhands to sing and dance at family celebrations, whether birts or marriages, or other festivities.

BHAVI: One of the most spectacular performances, it sounds of celebration. Its vibrant chords require little sophistry apart from the simple, unsophisticated instruments that include the ravanhatha (a stringed instruments), the morchng ( a Jewish harp), the bankia (trumpet), algoza (twin flutes), the duff (tambourine), and the amazingly innocuous matka (earthen pitcher) which is flipped over to play the most amazingly mesmeric beat. It also consists of veiled women dancers balancing upto seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting, and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on top of glass, or on the edge of a sword.

CHARI: Dancers choreograph deft patterns with their hands while balancing brass pots on their heads.

DRUM DANCE:Put a naked sword in the mouth of a man, and give him three swords to juggle with his hands while avoiding causing an injury to himself. This to the accopaniment of his troupe that consists of musicians holding aloft drums around their necks and cymbals in their hands.

FIRE DANCE:These dancers perform on a large bed of flaming coals, their steps moving to the beat of drums that rises in crescendo till the dancers appear to be in a near hypnotic state. These devotional performances are usually to be seen late on a winter's night.

GAIR: The men wear, pleated tunics that open out into full-length skirts as they move first in clockwise then in anti-clockwise direction, beating their sticks to create the rhythm when they turn. Originally a Bhil dance, and performed at the time of Holi, its variations are the Dandia Gair in the Marwar region and Geendad in the Shekhawati region. GHOOMAR:A community dance of the Rajputs, performed by the women of house and traditionally out of bounds for men. A new bride, on being welcomed tothe home of her husband, too is expected to dance the ghoomar as one of th rituals of the new marriages.

KACHHI GHODI:Originated fron the bandit regions of Shekhawati, the dance is performed for the entertainment of a bridegroom's party. KATHAK:This formal, classical dance evolved as a gharana in the couts of Jaipur.

KATHPUTLI: A tradition of puppeteering has long existed in Rajasthan. It uses the ballads, retold in the voice of the puppeteer who is assisted by his family in erecting a make-shift stage.

MAAND: A form of court music, the maand is a raga formation that developed in Marwar, and includes a complex inflexion of voices, sung in a deep bass.
SAPERA DANCE:One of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, performed by the Kalbeliya snake-charmers community.
TERAH TAALI: Another devotional form of dance practiced by the Kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwan, to honour their folk hero, Baba Ramdeo, it consists of women sitting on the floor before his image.