Art and culture
Gwalior is a well acknowledged place of art, associated with historic
as well as contemporary evidence. In August 2005 a mural created by
Aasutosh Panigrahi along with five other artist, was acknowledged as
World's Largest Indoor Mural by Guinness Book of Records.
Gwalior holds an unparalleled reputation in Sangeet Greatest ever
classical singer ( Dhrupadiya) was Baijnath Prasad alias Baiju Bawra
lived in Gwalior for his whole life under the patronage of Man Singh.
Baiju was born in Chanderi and was cremated there only, got the
training of music in Brindaban Under great Swami Guru Haridas ji. He
was Court Musician of Gwalior along with Nayak Charju, Bakshu, and
others.
Tansen, Born in Behat, trained in music at Vrindavan, Served to Raja
Ramchandra Waghela of Bandhawgarh, then went to Agra under the
patronage of Akbar. After the death of Tansen in Fatehpur Sikri and
crimation in Agra the ashes were buried in Gwalior. Tansen Samaroh is
held every year in Gwalior.
Ustad Natthu Khan, Hassu Khan, Haddu Khan , Nissar Hussain, Rehmat
Khan, Shankarrao Vishnu Pandit, RamkrishnaBuwa Vaze, Rajabhaiyya
Poonchhwale, Krishnarao Pandit, lived here and spread the magic of
music. Renowned artiste Mrs. Malini Rajurkar, who is keeping the flame
of Hindustani music alive today, also belongs to Gwalior.
Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan is also from the royal city of
Gwalior. His grandfather Ghulam Ali Khan Bangash became a court
musician in Gwalior.
Now, one of the great Hindustani classical singer Dr. Ishwar Chandra
Karkare who is fourth generation of artists poets and musician family
lives here and his classical music is full of spiritual joyousness.
Culturally Gwalior is the confluence of two rich cultures Bundeli and
Braj. Bundelkhand covers Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Sagar, Shivpuri, Guna,
Sheopur and adjoining areas
Ahiri Dance
This dance is related to people who have traditionally been in the
business of cattle herding. In different parts of the state these
people are known by different castes such as Ahir, Baredi, Gwal, Rawat,
Raut, Gwala etc. These people believe that they are the descendents of
Lord Krishna. Since this site is about Gwalior, here I am giving
description of Baredi or Yadav dance of Bundelkhand only. If you wish
to know more about dances in other parts of the state you are most
welcome to contact me.
Baredi or Yadav dance of Bundelkhand
This dance has been associated with the biggest Hindu festival
"Diwali". On the night of Diwali people worship Laxmi, the Hindu
goddess of wealth and cattle. Next day on the occasion of "Padva" or
"Parva" cattle are sent to jungles or ranches after being decorated
with flowers and garlands. They are given special dishes as food. Yadav
dance is performed on the same occasion.
Dancers dance in a circular path while singing songs. Sometimes they
sit or lie down on earth and suddenly they restart their dance. Rhythm
of the song is very low in starting and increases with time. Music
instruments are started only when two lines of the song are finished.
Primarily these are two line couplets. Sometimes these are in form of
questions and answers. This dance continues till Kartik Purnima.
Dress Dancers, instrument beaters and their associates wear a clean
turban on head. Some people like to put on Dhoti up to knees (long
cloth wore by men enwrapping their waist). Some people specially
dancers wear colorful shorts. Dancers also keep bunch of peacock
feathers.
Music Instruments Mradang, Dholak, Ramtula, Dhapli, Manzira, Jhanz etc.
are used in this dance.
Saharia Dances
Saharias are tribal people who live in jungles. They work in farms and
also collect medicinal plants from jungles. There are several dances of
Saharias. Some of the important ones are: Lur Dance, Lanhgi Dance,
Dul-Dul Ghodi Dance, Raya Dance, Ada-Khada Dance.
Lur dance of Saharias
This dance is performed on the occasion of marriage starting from the
day of ritual of "Haldi" (In this ritual whole body is pasted with
turmeric and after sometime it is removed so the body is cleaned) till
the arrival of Barat (Bridegroom comes to the house of the bride with
his relatives and friends for marriage ceremony).
Lanhgi dance of Saharias
This dance is also known as Danda(baton) dance because Saharias dance
with small batons in their hands with which they strike at each other
and perform Lanhgi dance. Only men are allowed in it. This dance is
performed on the occasion of Bhujarias, Teja ji puja and Aekadashi etc.
Dul-Dul Ghori dance
This dance is performed on the occasion of marriage by males. In this
dance a hollow case of ghori (mare) is prepared of bamboo sticks. The
dancer stands in the hollow place and dances.(depicts various movements
of mare.) There is also a joker in women clothing. People sing folk
songs during the dance.
