Why in the News?
- Padma Shri awarded folk dance artist Ram Sahay Pandey passed away in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh.
Key Points:
About Ram Sahai:
⇒ He was born on 11 March 1933 in Maddhar Patha village of Sagar district.
⇒ He belonged to an agriculturist Brahmin family and was the youngest of four siblings.
⇒ He got Rai dance recognized in 24 countries and established the Bundelkhandi Lok Nritya Natya Kala Parishad.
⇒ In the year 2022, he was awarded Padma Shri.
⇒ Apart from this, in the year 1980, he was awarded the title of Nritya Shiromani.
Rai Dance:
- Rai dance is the most famous dance of Bundelkhand.
- This dance is especially performed on special occasions like marriages and birth celebrations.
- Both men and women dance in it.
- The women who perform the Rai dance are called Bednis and the men are called Mridangdhari.
- Women tie ghungroos to their feet and dress up and dance to the beats of the Mridang.
- During this time men and women also sing Desi Swaang.
- Rai dance not only keeps the cultural heritage alive but also reveals the hidden folk art and traditions which symbolize the rich cultural heritage of Bundelkhand.
- The Bedia tribe in Madhya Pradesh performs this folk dance.
- It is also performed by women of the Ahir tribe on the occasion of the birth of a child in the Vaishya community.