Miniature Paintings

The simplest among these are done on wall, and though folk in style, they neverthless have some of the flavour of frescoes one sees in the old palaces. The tradition on painting the wall of houses with scenes from mythological and chivalric tales has been prevalent in Rajasthan for the past many centuries.

Miniatures are the most famous among paintings developed under the patronage of various rulers. The are still continues, though with considerably less patronage, in places like Nathwara, Udaipur and Bikaner, although most paintings made now are copies of old originals.

Pichvais: Noted among paintings are those made on cloth, known as pichavais, and intended as backdrops for the statue of the temple deity. Originally, these were made for different seasons and festivals for use at worship but later they came to be sold to pilgrims. In this thin layer of starch is applied on the cloth and painting is done in tempera.

Phad: Special mention must be made of cloth scroll paintings rendered in folk style known as phads, depicting the lives of local heroes. They tell mostly the story of Pabuji Ramdevji and Dev Narainji whose exploits ar sung by minstrels (bhopas) around the villages. The use of vibrant, raw colors and bold lines and a two dimensional treatment of figures with the entire composition arranged in sections are some of the unique features of these paintings.

Nathdwara has 150 painters in the pichavai technique, Jaipur 20, and Udaipur 6. Shahpura in Bhilwara has 20 phad painters and Udaipur 4.

Miniature paintings have been in records in Rajasthan for centuries and have very strong effect of the historical art and its related people. The various schools of painting in Rajasthan are:

Jodhpur School: Paintings on hand made depicting love scenes are more popular then the other art figures. Real gold and stone colours are used.

Jaipur School: gods and goddesses, kings and durbars are very beautifully painted on hand made papers by the artists. Artists have used real gold and stone colours.

Kangra School: Real gold, stone, and water colours are brushed on old handmade paper .squirrel-hair brushes are used. Glittering effect is extended using silver and golden colours.

Mughal School: - Love scenes and the Mughal durbar are depicted very beautifully on the silk using real gold and stone colors. This art today can be seen on the wooden background also.

Mewar School of Painting: These portray hunting scenes which are painted on cloth and handmade paper using stone colours

 

Folk Dances

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 ceremonial / special occasions. Colors of Thar Desert comes alive when its dancers take the center stage. The dancers, the dances and costumes had even enriched Thar the dignity of being the most colorful desert in the world. Each region flavoring its own form of dance styles and performers to the state. There are dances that follow a lineage of age old traditions, adhere to religious significance, display their daring attitude as well as complimenting various fairs and festivals.

 

Ghoomar

Derived from the word Ghoomna, pirouette.This dance is a part of the tribal culture of the Mewar Region of Rajasthan. This is basically a community dance for women and performed on auspicious occasions, this is a very simple dance where the ladies move gently, gracefully circles. It is called Ghoomara when men and women both participate equally in this dance.

 

 

Kalbeliya Dance

One of the most sensuous dance forms of Rajasthan, performed by the Kalbeliya snake charmers’ community, the sapera dancers wear long, black skirts embroidered with silver ribbons. As they spin in a circle, their body sways acrobatically, so that it is impossible to believe that they are made of anything other than rubber. As the beat increases in tempo, the pace increases to such a pitch that it leaves the viewer as exhausted as the dancer.

 

Chari Dance

Gathering water is part of everyday life of women of Rajasthan. The women go many miles to collect water for their families and their joy is reflected through the Chari Dance. Dancers choreograph deft patterns with their hands while balancing brass pots on their heads. The performance is made more picturesque with the flames from cottonseeds set alight, so that the bobbing heads create streaks of illuminating patterns as they move effortlessly around the floor.

 

Bhavai Dance

One of the state's most spectacular performances, it consists of veiled women dancers balancing up to seven or nine brass pitchers as they dance nimbly, pirouetting and then swaying with the soles of their feet perched on the top of a glass or on the edge of the sword. There is sense of cutting edge suspense and nail biting acts in the dance.

Sasariya Dance

In Rajasthan, the bride groom comes to take the bride away and finds her reluctant to live her parents to go to her home. Finally, she has to comply with the wishes of her groom after a tearful farewell from her people. It is a dance that depicts this situation within element of comicality.

 

Gorbandh

In the deserts of Rajasthan the women make a particular kind of ornament that is used in decorating camles this dance is based on the making of this ornament.

 

Dang Lila

Rajasthan is colorful region where "Melas" are organised on every festive occassion. Men and women dance using sticks which are larger than the tippani. This too is a group dance.

 

Tippani Dandiya Raas

It is a group dance by the women of Saurashtra. The dancers use two decorative sticks known as the tippani to keep to the beat of the music.

 

Kachi Ghodi

This is a dance performed on dummy horses. Men in elaborate costumes ride the equally well decorated dummy horses. Holding naked swords, these dancers move rhythmically to the beating of drums and fifes. A singer narrates the exploits of the Bavaria bandits of Shekhawati.

 

Gair

This is one of the many dance-forms of the Bhil tribals. Performed during Holi festival, this is among a few performances where both men and women dance together.

 

Terah Taal

The Kamad community of Pokhran and Deedwana perform this dance in honour of theft deity, Baba Ramdeo. A rather unusual performance where the men play a four-stringed instrument called a chau-tara and the women sit with dozens of manjeeras, or cymbals, tied on all over their bodies and strike them with the ones they hold in their hands. Sometimes, the women also hold a sword between their teeth or place pots with lighted lamps on their heads.