Giddha « Punjabi Traditions

Giddha

Giddha is another popular folk dance in Punjab which is played exclusively by women. The dance displays the vigour, elegance and elasticity of Punjabi women. This dance is performed during the Lohri festival and other celebrations like marriage and cultural programmes.
In Giddha dance, one woman plays the drum or “dholki”, while others dance in unison. They clap their hands and strike their palms against the adjacent participants. The leader of the group sings a “boli”, repeated by other women. The subject of this folk poetry, the boli, ranges from family and political life of Punjabi people to express the women’s suppressed feelings.
The women wear bright coloured dresses, salwars, kammeez, chunnis druppattas and ornaments like “suggi-phul” on head,“pazaibs” or anklets,“haarhamela” or golden necklaces. The comfortable and loose dresses help the girls to move freely with legs and hands.
The Giddha dancing girls perform mimicry with various roles playing sessions like mother-in laws, aged groom or a sister-in law and incorporate village life routines during their dance. The role playing is accompanied with corresponding songs.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoaQ9j8nyKI[/youtube]