Why In The News?

• Kalbeliya is a popular dance form from Rajasthan.

About:

=> It is primarily performed by the members of the Kalbeliyas, a nomadic group of snake charmers and dancers.

=> Inscribed in 2010 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the dance involves women in black skirts in swirling, graceful movements that replicate the movements of a serpent.

=> The dance is typically performed by a group of women accompanied by male musicians.

=> The dancers wear brightly colored skirts, blouses, and heavy jewelry.

=> The male musicians typically play the dhol (a drum), the pungi (a snake charmer’s pipe), and the khanjari (a tambourine).

=> It is thought that the Kalbelia dance dates back more than 300 years.

=> According to legend, the Kalbeliyas created the dance to appease the snake gods and avoid getting bitten by them.

=> The Kalbeliyas claim to use the dance to express their love of nature and distinctive culture.