Bhangra “The cultural emblem of the Panjabi Folklore”

Bhangra originated from the farming community, the farmer who, after a lot of toiling, sees his work in the form of an elegant growth, which gladdens his heart to the extent of ecstasy, which results in his joyful Bhangra dance. The dance movements depict the various farming methods that would be used in the fields i.e. cultivating the land, sewing the seeds, cutting and selling of the crops and then the celebrations that follow. The dancers also swing sticks and swords, stand on the shoulders of the other dancers as a part of the performance. Bhangra is a folk dance of the Panjab (a northern state of India). Bhangra originated in the 14th century in western Panjab and is classed as one of the oldest dances in the world. No other dance in India is capable of matching the vigor and intensity of this dance and it was in 1953 when a performance of the Bhangra was held on the Independence Day, that the entire population of India was left astounded. This dance was instituted from the farming community, the farmer who, after a lot of toiling, sees his work in the form of an elegant growth, which gladdens his heart to the extent of ecstasy, which results in this joyful Bhangra dance. This is the hearty dance of the big-hearted people of the Panjab. The dance movements depict the various farming methods that would be used in the fields i.e. cultivating the land, sewing the seeds, cutting and selling of the crops and then the celebrations that follow. The dancers dance to the beat of the ‘Dhol’ and the singer sings short verse from folk songs. This dance is performed on most occasions but the root of its inception is the festival of ‘Vaisakhi’ the harvest season and the Sikh’s New Year. Before the partition of Pakistan from India, Sikh’s, Hindu’s and Muslim’s joined together to celebrate this festival. This dance is mostly prominent with the men folk. Bhangra is not only a dance but also a form of exercise, not only of the body but the mind is also involved in it. The mind blooms with happiness and the body strengthens with the exercise. This dance is the tonic of elixir and the pep pill to the youth of the Panjab