Haryana has a rich tradition of folk music. Even villages have been named after classical ragas. In Dadri tehsil, several villages have names related to well-known ragas. These are Sarangpur, Bilawala, Brindabana, Todi, Asaveri, Jaishri, Malakoshna, Hindola, Bhairavi, Gopi Kalyana etc. Similarly, in Jind district, there are Jai Jai Vanti, Malavi etc.

Some of the music is based on ballads, which praise the heroes and their brave deeds. The music is played on different occasions like marriage, birth, advent of new seasons and cultural festivities. The Popularity of folk songs can be attributed to certain communities of Haryana. Jogis (saints) sing songs on the musical instrument called sarangi, they sing several ballads like Jaimal Phalla.

FOLK MUSIC

The folk music of Haryana are as follow :

CLASSICAL FORM :

• The classical form is linked to certain mythological legends like Barahmas, Jaimal-Phalla etc.

COUNTRYSIDE FORM :

• On the other hand, the countryside music includes festive songs sung in celebrations and change of seasons. This later type is based on legendary stories and heavily based on Hindustani ragas like jai jai vanti, Jhinjhoti, Pahari, Kafi, Pilu, Malhar, Bhairavi etc. The singing of ballads, the songs sung in praise of heroes of the state, are also hugely popular.

THE MUSICAL COMMUNITY :

• The Jogis, Bhats and Sangis are the people who have made folk music popular in Haryana. The Jogis use Sarangi as an accompaniment to their songs. They are proficient in using Jaimal-Phalla, Barahmas and other heroic ballads with their rich melodies and resonant-appealing voice. Though, their numbers are gradually decreasing rather they are at the verge of extination, yet, the rich and melodious tradition of folk music still remains as a part of Haryana life.

MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS :

• Music and dance go hand in hand. Most of the festivities are the joyous celebrations that are accompanied by colourful dances that are played to the tunes of rhythmical musical beats. Several musical instruments including Dholak, Drum, Matka, Harmonium, Manjira, Damru, Shehnai, Nagara, Khanjri, Ghunguru, Tasha and Sarangi are used, while singing and dancing fiesta.

DHOLAK :

• It is played from both the sides. Wooden sticks or hands are used for playing this percussion instrument. There are ropes attached to the body of the Dholak in order to adjust the pitch of the sound.
• In order to produce an additional effect, the players wear a ring on their finger or attach a set of sticks to them. Dhol, the bigger version of Dholak, is played with sticks. Usually, hung in front of body, the music played by this instrument is generally loud. Dholak is often used by women and professional musicians.

DAMRU :

• Built in the shape of a drum, damru is played during ritualistic ceremonies religious occasions. This instrument is associated with Lord Shiva, who is believed to have it played during his Tandava.

MANJIRA :

• These are pair of rhythmical cymbals that are strike against each other in order to produce musical beats. The two cymbals are made up of brass and usually built in the form of a cup. Tied with each other through a chord, these cymbals are played in classical folk and devotional music as an accompaniment.

SARANGI :

• It is a type of string instrument that is played with a bow made from animal hair. Made of a piece of wood, Sarangi has usually four strings, whose pitch is adjusted by four pegs. Additional strings are also, sometimes, attached to the instrument to produce additional effect.
• This instrument is very common and forms an important part of music of Haryana. It is widely used in folk songs and classical performances.

IKTARA :

• This age-old instrument has only a single string that is attached on a piece of bamboo. The singers carry it with them and before playing into hum of their voices, the pitch is checked. Favourite among the saints and bards, Iktara is an important musical instrument of Haryana.

SHEHNAI :

• This wind instrument is played by mouth. The tubular structure of Shehnai has several holes, so, the controlled breath-tunes can be allowed to play with wind. This musical instrument is played in marriage ceremonies.

BEEN :

• It is known for its long association with snake charmers. Been is a wind instrument that is widely played during dance performances. It is played with mouth and the player has to create a continuous flow of air to keep playing the music.

CHIMTA :

• It is a traditional musical instrument that consists of a set of two metallic prongs that at produce tinkling sounds, when strike against each other. Chimta has been the long companion of jogis and saints, who used to wander from place to place, while creating musical beats on Chimta. This instrument is also played in Jagratas and in Navratras.

HARMONIUM :

• This classical instrument is built in rectangular shape. It has several keys that are played to force out wind and produce music. Still used widely in cultural performances, Harmonium is an important part of the music of Haryana. Originally, harmonium does not belong to India but the harmonium is now common seen at all cultural performances. It is used by Swangis and Bhajmis in Haryana as an accompanying instrument.

KHANJARI :

• It is used in dance performances, Khanjari is a slight variation of daph with ghungurus attached to the body of the instrument.

KHARTALS :

• These are the wooden cymbals that are struck against each other to produce musical beats. To produce the tinkling sounds, metallic rings are attached to Khartals.

DAPH :

• This is a one sided drum and serves as accompaniment of dances particularly Dhamal dance which is popular in Mahendragarh district. It is very simple in construction consisting of an open circular frame with only one side covered with skin. It can be played either by hands or with small sticks. It is also used on festive occasions. Daph is associated with Drum.

NAGARA (NAQQARA) :

• This is also a side drum but heavy and large in size and rests on the ground while playing. Its body is made of copper. It is played with two large sticks. It is a relic of feudal times when state announcements were made with the beat of the Nagara.

TAASHA :

• This is a one sided earthen instrument played by two small sticks. It is used on ceremonial occasions and sometimes also on the occasion of dance performances.

JHIL :

• This is a smaller version of Nagara and is played with small sticks. It is also played on the left side of the Nagara. It is really a part of Nagara like a pair of Tabla.

GHUNGRUS :

• These are worn by dancers around his or her ankles to give force and effect to the dance. It also helps in producing the rhythm.

FOLK DANCE :

• As every religion, caste, state, nation has own identical dance forms like that forms colourful Haryana state also has their variety of traditional and modern dance forms, which they perform on the special movements. The people of Haryana celebrate their festivals and occasions by doing different forms of dances, so, whether it is marriage, birth of child or any social and religious occasions.

PHAG, PHALGUN OR FAAG DANCE :

• This dance form is generally performed in the lunar month of Phalgun, in this month, people of Haryana gets excited to celebrate the festival of colour called holi. All the dancers get together on the sound of Dhol, Tasha and Nagara. All the men of Haryana village come outside the homes by singing their very old traditional songs, which they sing in the month of Phalgun and the women come up with carrying the Koraras means the cloths with long knots.

LOOR DANCE :

• Loor dance is generally done by the young girls in the month of Phalgun. This beautiful dance form got the name Loor, because the meaning of this word is Bangar area girls of Haryana. This Loor dance is performed during the festival of holi. This dance form is a signal, which signifies that spring season is coming and rabi crops are ready to be sown by the farmers. The song, which used in this dance, is very much interesting, questions and answers are asked by the singers.

RATVAI DANCE :

• In the rainy season, Mewati people of Haryana do their favourite dance form Ratvai, the musical instruments like Bansuri and Been accompanied this interesting dance form. An earthen pitcher is used as a miniature drum, with its mouth covered with strips of rubber and played with both hands.

JHUMAR DANCE :

• The name of this dance form is similar with the ornament called as Jhumar, which ladies wear to decorate their forehead. This dance form is specially performed by the young girl, who are married. This Jhumar dance form is also called as Haryanvi Gidda. Performers wear very colourful attires to perform this Jhumar dance form. The female performer of this dance sings on the Dholak's beats, clapping mutually and rhythmically. The unique feature of this dance form is the performer stand on the thali or steel plate and they all move very elegantly by keeping the thali in feet.

DHAMAL :

• This dance form of Haryana is an ancient dance form, because from the days of great Hindu epic war Mahabharata, this dance form is in practice. Among the area of Gurgaon, this Dhamal dance form is very much famous, as Ahir community people are residing there. When the Dhamal dance starts, the music players plays very high note music, then after they play musical instruments like Nagara, Dhol, Tasha and by picking up the beat the graceful dance form starts.

DAPH DANCE :

• This dance form is also seasonal dance form, which is performed by the farmers. In this dance form, farmers express their happy emotions, because they have got good harvest and spring season is going to start. Because only farmers perform this dance, that's why, it is more of their community dance. For this dance, they use musical instrument Daph (one sided drum).

SAANG DANCE :

• Saang dance is a popular dance form of Haryana, reflecting its culture in true sense. A group comprising in even numbers such as ten or twelve persons perform it. The dance is mainly reflecting religious stories and folk tales that are performed in open places and lasts for 5 hours. Some of the male participants dress as women to perform the female casting in dance. The meaning of `Saang' or `Swang' is disguise or 'to impersonate'. It is believed that this dance form was first originated and then evolved in its present form by Kishan Lal Bhaat in AD 1750.

GUGGA DANCE :

• In this dance form, the Gugga devotees perform around the Gugga leaden in his honour and they also sing songs, which praise Gugga saint. This dance form is performed only by the males, this is more of ritual dance performance and through this dance, they remember the memory of the Gugga saint. As compare to other dance forms, this dance is simple and it generates the spiritual feeling among the Gugga devotees. In India, many dance performance are connected with the God and Goddess. For the Gugga dance, devotees of Gugga (a saint) dance around his grave in his honour and sing songs in his praise.

CHHATHI DANCE :

• In many places of India, the birth of new child is celebrated with leasure. Chhathi dance is also a ritualistic dance, performed at the birth occasion. But, this dance is performed only on the birth of a male child. Women perform this dance on the sixth day of the birth. It is a romantic dance and performed at night time. At the end of the celebration, boiled wheat and chana are distributed to all present members.

RAS LEELA :

• The word Ras in Ras Leela signifies dance, which is considered a pleasant dance form in India. Ras Leela dance is common folk dance among the people living in the Braja area of the Faridabad district of the state. Ras Leela contains many songs, which are in praise of Lord Vishnu. As Lord Vishnu has been manifest in many incarnations, songs are fairing descriptive in nature.

DEEPAK DANCE :

• Both males and females keep earthen lamps in their hands, while performing the Deepak dance form. This is best source to present the devotion, which becomes hard to forget.

GHOOMAR DANCE :

• Ghoomar dance form is done in the circular movements by the performers. This dance is usually present by the girls, who live in the Rajasthan border areas. In the start of dance, dancers first make one circle and then they start moving, while singing and clapping, when the music of the dance begins. The song of this dance is full of humour and satire and it also refers to their traditional events. The Ghoomar couple dancer move around in circle. This dance has become popular in Dadri, Laharu, Hisar and Bhiwani districts of Haryana. The dance is exclusively performed by women on the occasions of Diwali, Holi and Gangor Puja.