Rajasthan’s population includes many tribals, who today constitute 12% of the population of Rajasthan, nearly double the national average. The main tribes of Rajasthan are the Bhils and the Minas and other smaller tribes include the Sahariyas, Garasias and the Gaduliya lohars.
Garasia Dancers of Rajasthan
The tribes share common traits, which seem to link their past together but it is the differences in their costumes and jewellery, fair and festivals that set them apart from one another.
Music and Dances of Tribal Community
Music and dances are such an essential part of tribal life that professional musicians and dancers are redundant.
Walar Dance – Famous Dance Garasia Community
The ‘Garasia’ tribal inhabits the Abu Road and Pindwara tehsils of Sirohi districts and the neighboring territories of Kotra, gogunda and khewara tehsils of Udaipur districts, Bali and desuri of pali districts.
They have a folklore enriched with folktales, proverbs, riddles and folk music. Walar is an important dance of the Garasias which is a prototype of the Ghoomar dance.
Their dances are generally accompanied by the beats of the mandal, change and a variety of other musical instruments which provide a lively rhythm to their dance sequences.
Gawari Dance – Famous Dance of Bhil Commuinty
The most famous Bhil dance is the Gawari, a dance go from village to village for a month, during which the nine functionaries follow a stricts regimen.
The main character are Rai Buriya, the shiva, his two rais and Katkuria, the comic handman. Between the enactment of various episodes, the entire troupe dances around a central spot consecrated to a deity.
