Indian folk music
From ArticleWorld
Folk music has always had widespread popularity mainly because of community involvement and entertainment value. The intrusion of pop culture and invasions by armies over the centuries has, however, dimmed the liveliness and following over the decades. The government of India has made a conscientious effort after its independence from colonial rule, to revive folk arts, culture and music. And in a reversal of roles folk music has influenced the pop culture and music, the native, Indian classical form of music and film dance and music too.
Contents |
Bhangra
Amongst the various forms of folk music bhangra is the most famous and has caught the fancy of the masses, both domestic and international. Bhangra is a dance oriented folk music in which big drums are slung around and carried across the shoulder of the percussionist while other artistes dance in a typical Punjabi style, with raised hands’ shrugging movement in sync with drum beats. This kind of music is now a sensation in places like the UK, Canada and other Punjabi dominant places of the world.
Lavani
Lavani is a very famous folk art form of Maharashtra. The main artist is a woman on the stage dancing and at the same time answering to queries of the members of the audience, mostly men. The question and answer format involves socio- economic and romantic overtones. It is the mother of “rap” style of music which is prevalent now in the western world.
Dandiya
Dandiya is also a form of dance oriented folk music in which artistes dance to the tune of drums having sticks in each hand and hitting each others’ sticks in rhythm. It is a devotional folk art form.
Garbha
Garbha is more of a devotional form of fold song and dance sequence during the time of “Navaratri”. Dance and music is offered to seek the blessings of the goddess Durga. It seems quite similar in rhythm and content to Dandiya with the difference that artistes dance in a circular path behind each other around a centrally placed idol of the Goddess.