Bhangra- The Pride of Punjab

When you here Punjab what is the first thing came to your mind? That it is land of five Rivers but what next? The most energetic dance form BHANGRA. Yes, it is the traditional folk dance of Punjab. It is done in the season of harvesting. In a typical performance, several dancers execute vigorous kicks, leaps, and bends of the body—often with upraised, thrusting arm or shoulder movements—to the accompaniment of short songs called boliyan and, most significantly, to the beat of a dhol (double-headed drum). The 1950s saw the development of the free-form traditional bhangra in Punjab, India, which was patronized by the Maharaja of Patiala, who requested a staged performance of bhangra in 1953. According to Dhillon (1998), bhangra is related to the Punjabi dance 'bagaa', which is a martial dance of Punjab. However, the folk dance of Bhangra originated in the Sialkot district of Majha. While performing Bhangra, women wear salwar kameez, kameez (long colorful shirt), and salwar (a type of baggy pant). Females also cover their necks with chunni. All these outfits are vibrant and colorful. Nowadays many people also do the bhangra as a source of exercise, it is an excellent substitution for the gym. Traditionally, bhangra is danced by men but now we see both men and women participating in this dance form. With bhangra competitions all over the world, we see all sorts of people competing in these events.