Banchari dance by folk dancers of Haryana

Such performances evidently provides a unique opportunity for the citizens of India to witness colourful, vibrant and authentic folk dances drawn from various parts of the Haryana. It also goes a long way in preserving, promoting and disseminating Haryanvi folk dances as an important part of the wide spectrum of Haryanvi art and culture.

Banchari is the village in Haryana which has contributed for several generations to traditional folk music and has troupes who play the Nagada and dance to the beats of the drums swaying to the pungi.

Nagada or Kettledrum is the present version of the Dundubhi, a drum with a narrow bottom and a very wide mouth covered with animal hide and beaten with sticks and the pungi made of bottle gourd which channels air into two reed pipes.Traditionally used in marriages and religious functions and always in the Naubatkhana which is at the entrance of a palace or a fort and housed a number of musical instruments that were played to announce royal arrivals and festivities.

Young Banchari dancer and his drummers entertain visitors during Shilpgram Utsav in Udaipur, Rajasthan.

A splash of colours, rhythm of drum beats and joy de-vivre merge at Shilpgram Udaipur.

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