Women dancing while carrying ignited brass pot on their heads, traditional dance by Gujjar community of northern Rajasthan. A customary dance of ethnic Gujjar community from Northern Rajasthan, chari/charu means water pot made by metal. Women of gujjar community keep the vessel on their head; often these vessel pots are blazed with cotton seeds dipped in oil. The main skill is balancing these flaming pots on head while dancing. A well choreographed and a great music coming out from bankia (musical instrument) generates a electrifying waves in the audiences. I was completely stunned!
Art of Balancing
Collecting water in a Chari or a Pot is essential to the daily life of women in rural or desert areas of Rajasthan. The Chari dance is performed by a group of women who adorn themselves with traditional ornaments and costumes. Accompanied by Rajasthani Folk music played with instruments like nagada, dholak, dhol, and harmonium, the Chari dance is a celebration of culture and art.
Similar to the Bhavai dance, the Chari dance involves carrying brass pots on their heads, but in this case, the pots contain fire-lit lamps. The dancers move gracefully, swaying their hips and making hand movements while skillfully balancing the pots as they twirl.
The dance is often performed during the nighttime to enhance the visual appeal, as the glowing pots and lamps create stunning effects in the darkness. As the dancers move gracefully across the floor, they craft lines of lighted patterns that make it look magical. The Chari dance displays skill, tradition, and artistic expression of women from the Gujjar and Saini communities based in the Kishangarh and Ajmer regions.
Folk Dance show