DANCE AND MUSIC
There are many different styles of dance in North India but the most famous style is Bhangra. Bhangra is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region in Southeast Asia. The birthplace of Bhangra, the Punjab is a region extending over part of Northern India and Northeastern Pakistan. Translated, the name "Punjab" means the "Land of Five Rivers
BHANGRA
Around the 14th or 15th Century, Punjabi wheat farmers danced and sang songs about village life to help pass the time while working in the fields. With time, these became part of harvest celebrations at Vaisakhi (April 13) the day of the creation of the Khalsa festivals, as the sight of their crops growing invigorated the farmers. From here the dance quickly moved through all divisions of class and education.
Many different Punjabi instruments contribute to the sound of Bhangra. Although the most used instrument is the dhol drum. The dhol is a large, high-bass drum, played by beating it with two sticks. The width of a dhol skin is about fifteen inches in general, and the dhol player holds his instrument with a strap around his neck.
The string instruments include the tumbi, sarangi, sapera, supp, and chimta. The tumbi, famously mastered by Amar Singh Chamkila, a famous Punjabi singer, is a high-tone, single-string instrument. Although it has only one string, mastering the tumbi takes many years. The dhol and the tumbi both are used in almost every bhangra related song.
Traditionally, men wear a lungi while doing Bhangra. A lungi is a colourful piece of cloth wrapped around the waist. Men also wear a kurta, which are a long Punjabi-style shirt and a pair of moje: colourful, ornate shoes.
Bhangra singers do not sing in the same tone of voice as their Southeast Asian counterparts. Rather, they employ a high, energetic tone of voice. Singing fiercely, and with great pride, they typically add nonsensical, random noises to their singing. Likewise, often people dancing to Bhangra will yell phrases such as "Balle balle," or "Hey aripa" to the music.
The nature of Bhangra is happiness and energy which is why it is performed at joyous occasions such as weddings, birthdays and religious festivals. A common party entertainment is Bhangra dance crews which perform special dances that have evolved with western times. On Vaisakhi a special performance of Gatka is done by a professionally trained group of Sikhs.
GIDDHA
The legend has it that Giddha originated from the ancient ring dance that was quite dominant in Punjab. Giddha is not as well known as Bhangra yet it is still performed at alongside Bhangra at almost every occasion
Women wear the traditional Punjabi dress, salvar. A salvar is composed of a long colorful shirt and baggy, vibrant pants. Women also wear duppattas, colorful pieces of cloth wrapped around the neck. Many Bhangra songs make references to the duppatta.
Giddha is a popular folk dance of Punjab that is performed only by the ladies. This dance is the female counterpart of Bhangra, and has the same tempo of high-spirited revelry. Giddha is performed during festive or social occasions, especially during the sowing and reaping of harvest.
GATKA
The most religious sub dance of Bhangra is gatka which is a Sikh martial art in which people use swords, sticks, or daggers. Historians believe that the sixth Sikh guru started the art of gatka. Wherever there is a large Sikh population, there will be Gatka participants, often including small children and adults. These participants usually perform Gatka on special Punjabi festivals