Giddha
Encyclopedia
About the Folk dance=
Giddha is a popular folk dance
of women in Punjab region
of India
and Pakistan
. The dance is often considered derived from the ancient dance known as the ring dance and is just as energetic as Bhangra; at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace, elegance and elasticity. It is a very colourful dance form which is now copied in all regions of the country.
Costumes=
The Punjabi Salwar Kameez (tunic top and loose fitting pants worn by women in Punjab region
) and/or Ghaggra (colorful long-skirt) in bright and rich colours are the typical costumes of the dance, Giddha.
Performence=
Giddha is essentially danced in a circle. Girls or women form a circle. All of them clap their hands and sing small couplets (folk poetry of different sizes) called Boliaan/Boliyan . "Boliaan" is a plural from of "Boli/Bolee" (folk poetry). These Boliaan are emotional, humorous, teasing, love, nature and various topics.
Then, two or three (mostly two) of the dancers come to the centre and perform the dance. These boliyan (folk poetry) cover themes from nature to the excesses committed by the husband or mother-in-law or other relatives, and love etc..
(small two-headed drum) which provides the rhythm for the dance. Mostly women prefer clapping as the rhythm. The distinctive hand-claps of the dancers is a prominent feature of this art-form.
Acts=
Mimicry is very popular in Giddha. One woman may play the aged bridegroom and another his young bride; or one may play a quarrelsome sister-in-law and another a humble bride. In this way, Giddha provides for all the best forum for venting emotions. Gidha incorporates village life scenes of woman spinning cotton, fetching water from the well, grinding, etc. This is accompanied with appropriate Boli and songs.
Giddha is a popular folk dance
Folk dance
The term folk dance describes dances that share some or all of the following attributes:*They are dances performed at social functions by people with little or no professional training, often to traditional music or music based on traditional music....
of women in Punjab region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. The dance is often considered derived from the ancient dance known as the ring dance and is just as energetic as Bhangra; at the same time it manages to creatively display feminine grace, elegance and elasticity. It is a very colourful dance form which is now copied in all regions of the country.
The Punjabi Salwar Kameez (tunic top and loose fitting pants worn by women in Punjab region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
) and/or Ghaggra (colorful long-skirt) in bright and rich colours are the typical costumes of the dance, Giddha.
Performence=
Giddha is essentially danced in a circle. Girls or women form a circle. All of them clap their hands and sing small couplets (folk poetry of different sizes) called Boliaan/Boliyan . "Boliaan" is a plural from of "Boli/Bolee" (folk poetry). These Boliaan are emotional, humorous, teasing, love, nature and various topics.
Then, two or three (mostly two) of the dancers come to the centre and perform the dance. These boliyan (folk poetry) cover themes from nature to the excesses committed by the husband or mother-in-law or other relatives, and love etc..
Music
Normally, no musical instruments are accompanied with Giddha, except (sometimes) a dholakDholak
The Dholak is a North Indian, Pakistani and Nepalese double-headed hand-drum Madal. The name dholki may also refer to a slightly different instrument that uses high-pitch tabla style syahi masala on its treble skin. This instrument is also known as Naal or Dholki....
(small two-headed drum) which provides the rhythm for the dance. Mostly women prefer clapping as the rhythm. The distinctive hand-claps of the dancers is a prominent feature of this art-form.
Acts=
Mimicry is very popular in Giddha. One woman may play the aged bridegroom and another his young bride; or one may play a quarrelsome sister-in-law and another a humble bride. In this way, Giddha provides for all the best forum for venting emotions. Gidha incorporates village life scenes of woman spinning cotton, fetching water from the well, grinding, etc. This is accompanied with appropriate Boli and songs.