Folk Dance - Ghoomar or Gangore

It is a traditional folk dance performed by the women of the Bhil tribe in Rajasthan. It is characterised by the pirouetting movements of the women, which brings into prominence the multi-coloured vibrancies of the flowing Ghaghra.

Folk Dance - Tarangamel

It is the folk dance of Goa that celebrates the youthfulness of the region. It is performed during Dussehra and Holi. The use of rainbow-like costumes with multi-coloured flags and streamers make it a visual spectacle.

Gana Sangeet

This is the form of fusion music that is sung in chorus or groups and in large numbers. The most common form of Gana Sangeet is to sing about patriotic feelings. They also include songs of protest against the malpractices in the society. They generally try to bring in a social message, for example, to urge people to stop the exploitation of women and children etc. One of the most popular examples of Gana Sangeet is our national song: Vande Mataram, which is sung in praise of the nation.

 

Sugam Sangeet

This is the genre of devotional music, which brings classical and folk together. This takes cue from earlier forms of music like Prabandha Sangeet and Dhruvapada as they were all devotional in nature too. There are sub-categories in this genre: 

Bhajan

They are one of the most popular types of devotional singing present in north India. It owes its origin to Bhakti movement, as the saints would take the message of god to the people through oral means, i.e., through singing hymns. The lyrics are set to simple melodies, generally sung in one or more raga. The stories from the life of the god and goddess or from the Mahabharata and the Ramayana are popular subjects for bhajans.

The Bhajans are usually accompanied by musical instruments like the chimta, dholak, dhaphli and manjira. The major expounders of the bhajans in the medieval period were Mirabai, Tulsidas, Surdas, Kabir, etc. Currently, people get together in temples or even concerts like functions at home to sing devotional music. Amongst the most famous bhajan singers of all times are Anup Jalota and Anuradha Paudwal.

Shabad

With the rise of Sikhism, we saw many devotional songs dedicated to the gurus were sung in the Gurudwaras. Historians suggest that Guru Nanak and his disciple Mardana were responsible for the development and popularity of Shabd. Currently, there are three types of Shabad singing, raga-based Shabad singing; traditional shabds as mentioned in the Adi Granth and the lighter ones. Now-adays, the Singh Bandhus - Tejpal Singh, Surinder Singh and Bhai Santa Singh are amongst the best-known Shabad singers.

Qawwali

This is also a kind of devotional music as they are in praise of the Allah or the Prophet Muhammad or any other major Sufi or Islamic saint.

 It is composed in a single raga and is generally written in Urdu, Punjabi or Hindi. Some words of Brajbhasa and Awadhi are also used.

They are performed in Sufi shrines.

Qawwali is usually sung as a solo or in groups of two leads singers and a team comprises of around eight members.

 Musical instruments like tabla, dholak and harmonium are used. The intensity or tempo gradually builds up, seeking to induce transcendental state.

 It is said that Amir Khusrau can be credited with the origin of Qawwali but it is severely disputed. Major Qawwals are the Sabri Brothers, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Aziz Warisi etc.