Today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms will be presented in Hindi, with subtitles in Arabic, Aulacese (Vietnamese), Chinese, English, French, German, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Halo graceful viewers, and welcome to A Journey through Aesthetic Realms on Supreme Master Television.

On today’s episode, we are delighted to present a few traditional dances from the beautiful country of India. One of the most ancient civilizations on the globe, her rich artistic heritage has evolved during more than 8,000 years of continuous cultural development.

This is reflected in the many forms of performance arts. Every year, countless regional as well as national festivals showcase hundreds of folk dances, many of which have roots traceable to a particular part of the country.

Our first dance is Garba, performed during the 9-day Navarātrī festival, which honors fertility and the divine origin of humanity. The colorfully dressed dancers, both males and females, are arranged in a circle surrounding a figure of a god or goddess, which has been placed in a central space or in a well-designed perforated earthen pot called Garbo.

The dancers’ circle represents the recurring cycle of birth and death. The many forms of this are displayed as a kaleidoscopic pattern shown by the dancers, symbolizing the ever-changing nature of the physical world, with only God at the center being eternal. Originating in the Gujarat region of India, Garba is a very lively dance with performers clapping or joining their palms after each move. In addition to India, Garba has also become very popular in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Dholcholam is a drum dance popular in the northeastern state of Manipur. It is a mesmerizing performance by individual or group dancers at the Holi carnival every spring when, according to folk tradition, people sprinkle each other with colored powder or water to celebrate Mother’s love.

Dressed in vibrant costumes, Dholcholam dancers may carry various types of drums depending on the occasion, swaying their supple bodies and limbs gently like flowers in the spring breeze. At times, the drummer may perform acrobatic feats as the drumbeat goes faster and faster, leading the all-percussion ensemble. Next, please enjoy a fantastic Dholcholam performance.

The eastern Indian state of Orissa is known for its Odissi – one of the 6 classical Indian dance forms. Accompanied by traditional Indian instruments, the artists display beautiful poses and hand gestures in slow graceful movements. Throughout the centuries, Odissi has received enthusiastic royal patronage. It was also practiced as a prayer ritual by women who took care of Indian temples. The following is a short presentation of this classical dance.

Kathak was the name for the nomadic poets of ancient northern India who traveled around telling scriptural stories, accompanying themselves by choreographed movements. During over 1600 years of evolution, this dance absorbed many forms of folk arts from different origins.

These included the devotional ritual of the Bhakti religious movement, the straight leg dance style of Persian dancers, and the spinning movement of the mystic swirling dervishes. The addition of ankle bells also occurred during the development of Kathak. Let’s take a look at this ingenious blend of styles.

Although different in pace and strength, in many ways Kagalumba is quite similar to the Spanish dance Flamenco. This includes maintaining a straight vertical axis of the body, swirling movements, and elegant footwork. The Romanis are known for their wonderful talent and self expression.

Nowadays, the remaining Romanis in India continue the time-honored artistic traditions of their ancestors. Our next show is Kagalumba, a Rajasthan Romani folk dance with enchanting vocal and instrumental accompaniments.

Among the India folk ballets, perhaps the one that requires the most skill is the Stick Dance. Developed from a martial art in the northeastern state of Manipur, Stick Dance can be performed in solo or in group. The dancer, often dressed in a spirited martial art outfit, uses two sticks, one in each hand, to control a centrally tapered wand to prevent it from falling on the ground. While doing so, the dancer increases the difficulty of the stunt according to the accelerating rhythms of the drum and cymbals, while the audience admire in disbelief.

Meaning “beauty,” Lavani has been a popular folk dance of Maharashtra state for centuries. It is performed by charming women wearing nine-yard long saris and ankle bells to the exultant beat of the traditional Indian drum dholak. In some cases, the dancers also sing along with the rhythm. The dance enjoyed its peak popularity during the Peshwai Dynasty in Pune, when it became the favorite of the royal court. Common themes include a variety of subjects related to religion, social life, and romance. Now, please enjoy a beautiful performance of Lavani.

Our last Indian folk dance presentation today is Bhangra. It is a community dance developed in 1400 or earlier by Punjabi Sikh farmers to celebrate the harvest season on the village grounds. During the festivity, men and women wearing colorful traditional dresses sing Punjabi folk songs and play a number of musical instruments, including various kinds of drums and flutes.

Currently, Bhangra dance and music are also an integral part of weddings, Indian New Year celebrations, and other jubilant occasions. As our society becomes increasingly global, Bhangra has extended to many parts of the world including the entire South Asia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. The rhythms and dance styles have also been combined with other genres such as hip-hop and reggae.

Today we have seen eight folk dances of India, each with a unique origin and elegance. India’s rich artistic heritage has evolved for thousands of years, adding immeasurable beauty and upliftment to our world. May the spiritual Indian people, many of whom follow a plant-based lifestyle, continue to thrive, gracing a sustainable planet for eons to come, with all God’s blessings

Precious viewers, thank you for watching today’s A Journey through Aesthetic Realms.

Up next on Supreme Master Television is Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living, following Noteworthy News. May all world citizens realize their noble and compassionate God nature.