Giddha
Native name | ਗਿੱਧਾ or گدها |
---|---|
Genre | Folk dance |
Origin | Punjab |
Part of a series on |
Punjabis |
---|
Punjab portal |
Giddha (
Giddha varies from other forms of traditional Punjabi dance in that it does not require the two-headed barrel dhol drum to be performed. Instead, women stand in a circle formation and clap rhythms. A lead woman will recite a boli (lyrics) with a refrain that the entire circle then repeats. The whole form of a giddha song is worked through in this call and response form. Giddha details stories of women's lives, including sexuality.[1]
History
Giddha is said to be originated from the ancient ring dance which was dominant in Punjab.[2] Giddha displays a traditional mode of performing Punjabi femininity, as seen through dress, choreography, .[3] Since the Partition of India in 1947 and the division of Punjab into West Punjab (Pakistan) and East Punjab (India), folk dances of Punjab on both sides of the border have been consolidated, staged, and promoted as iconic expressions of Punjabi culture.[4] While the form of giddha was not seriously affected by Partition, Gibb Schreffler writes that it has been classified as the women's dance counterpart to the male form bhangra, despite that not entirely being the case.[4]
As Punjabi dance forms became codified in the 1960s-onward, bhangra and giddha competitions have become popular throughout Punjab and the Punjabi diaspora. Punjabi dance forms have also spread through collegiate-level dance troupes in Punjab since the 1960s and in South Asian student groups in the US, UK, and Canada since the 1990s.[5]
Dress code
Traditionally, women used to wear salwar kameez and Ghagra in bright colours and jewellery. The attire is completed by dressing the hair in two braids and folk ornaments and wearing a tikka on the forehead.[6]
References
- ^ "Dance Styles". Shan-e-Punjab. Retrieved 22 June 2019.
- ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0, retrieved 20 March 2024
- ^ "Giddha Origin and history". utsavpedia.com. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ a b Schreffler, Gibb (2004). "Vernacular Music and Dance of Punjab". Journal of Punjab Studies. 11 (2): 197–214.
- S2CID 143912821.
- ^ "Giddha Dress Code". indianmirror.com. Retrieved 9 March 2017.