Folk dances of Sindh

Set of dances from Sindh

Folk dances of Sindh (Sindhi: سنڌ جا لوڪ ناچ) are the traditional dances of the Sindhi people, which are indigenous to Sindh region which is now in Pakistan. These dances are performed at various events including marriages, ceremonies, special occasions, on birth of a child and for cultural purposes.

Sindhi "Ho Jamalo" dance by a group.

## History

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Dances in early-medieval Sindh had great prominence which attributed to social and religious life, the scriptures from Mohenjo Daro have proved this fact. The dancing girl from Mohen jo Daro Sambara is quite famous.[1]

Bronze "Dancing Girl," Mohenjo-daro, c. 2500 BC

## Overview

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Dances of Sindh include the famous Ho-Jamalo and Dhammal.[2] Common dances include Jhumar/Jhumir (Different from Jhumar dance of South Punjab), Kafelo, Dandio, Talli and Jhamelo[3][4] however none of these have survived as much as Ho-Jamalo, Jhumir and dhammal.[5] In marriages and on other occasions, a special type of songs are sung these are known as Ladas/Sehra/Geech and these are sung to celebrate the occasion of marriage, birth and on other special occasions, these are mostly performed by women.

## Folk Dances

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Some of folk dances include:

Jamalo: the notable Sindhi dance which is celebrated by Sindhis across the world, it was historically performed by men only on different occasions, it is performed in group either in a circle as well as in square, the "Ho-Jamalo" folk song is specifically dedicated for this dance which is sung by one lead man or by a singer standing in middle of circle or on one side, while other men dance and chant Ho-Jamalo!. The words of the song praise about beauty, nature, bravery and culture of Sindhi people of different regions like Uttar, Lar, Thar, Kachho etc.

Jhumar/Jhumir: A dance performed by men and women while singing the lada/sehra/geech (folk wedding songs) or on the sound of Dhul, Shernai/Shahnai, Muto instruments on weddings and other special days like Chhatri, Akiko, Tohar, Mangno, Sukhan etc. The dance is performed individually, there are many variations of Jhumir dance, it is generally performed by moving the hands in circles, clapping, and making swirls called (Pherio or Pher'rio), and some other moves, each region of Sindh has its own variations of Jhumir. The Relatives and friends would shower money on performers called (ghor).[3] some variations of Jhumir dance are: Jahmat Jhumir,[6] Mandi Jhumir,[7] Pali Kapanwari Jhumir,[8] Tay Taari Jhumir,[9] Kanday Kadharwari Jhumir,[10] Pheriwari Jhumir,[11] Rahki Pokh Jhumir,[12] etc.

Chhej: this is pure folk Sindhi dance which is performed on every happy moment like weddings, eids etc, while Sindhi hindus perform it on days of Behrano, Holi etc. It is performed in circle of at least seven people but it can be fifty people as well, The performers wear same clothes, each person has one, two or three sticks of wood called "Donko/Donki" made of "Jandri" lacquer art and decorated in shiny pompoms and ghunghroo, in the middle of the circle one "Dhulari" drummer, one "Shernayo" Shernai player stand in traditional clothes and turbans, everyone performs the dance on the music of these instruments, different "Sur" are played on drum like Sandhro, Bhero, Kohyari, Hussaini, Talang, Khamāch, Malkauns or Sunhri while Shernayo plays Pahari sur. There are also different styles of Chej according to sound, steps etc. This is the most energetic dance which starts at slow pace and slowly gets fast and reaches at end.[13] the Chej performers are called "Chhejjāri".

Although Chhej has seen decline in Sindh but it remains popular among Sindhi Hindus and diaspora.[14][15][16]

Bhagat: is a folk dance performed by professionals in fairs, events, shows to entertain visiting people. The performance usually started at night and lasted till early hours of morning. Only men were allowed to perform the bhagat. Two or more performers interacted to weave folktales in song. The lead singer, called the Bhagat would be dressed in Jamo (a long coat), Pagadi (headgear), Chher (anklets) and Kundal (earrings). The backup singers were usually dressed up as women and were addressed by the bhagat by female names. The bhagat was a hugely popular form of entertainment during festivals, marriages and fairs held in mandirs and dargahs.[17][16]

Dhamaal: is a mystical dance mainly performed by faqirs, dervishes, sufi saints and devotees. The main performers would wear all red color Jamo and Sindhi Patko turban, the red is the color of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, which was the favorite color of him, he wore the attire of red color as well, hence the name "Lal" has been given to him which means "Red".[18] Dhammal is characterized by religious fervor. Nagaro, Nobat, Gharyal, Ghugoo instruments etc provide the beat and tempo for the dance.[3][4]

Saang: This folk dance was performed back in time during wedding ceremony, it is like an opera in which men and women will dressed performed characters, the women imitate the works and chores of females and male imitate male works, in this dance the performers sing as well and pass funny comments on each other.[19]

Dandio: Dance performed using sticks in Thar.

Charuri: A folk dance performed using metal pots in circle, this folk dance is performed in thar.

Muhana Dance: A folk dance performed by Mohana fishermen and fisherwomen community of Sindh.

Asimori: This is the folk dance of young girls in which two girls grab each other's hands and move in circles.[20]

Matkaywaro Nāch: this folk dance is performed in Thatta, in which group of men stack matkas on their heads or one matka balanced on a stick placed on their head, while dancing on music or on sound of Dhul, Shernai/Shahnai etc.[21][22]

Tapro: This is the folk dance of Holi festival.[20]

Rasudo: Dance of Nangarparkar while singing a folk rasuda songs.

Matiku: one of folk dance of thar region of Sindh.

Sheedi dance: the Sheedi community of Sindh have their own traditional dances and music, there are different styles of dances and music, for example one in performed in a group by men dressed in their attire made of peacock feathers and face markings, in which they also perform different stunts like spitting fire from mouth etc, other style is more of individual dance which is performed on the beats of "Mugarman" (a type of kettle drum), there is also a sufi dance called Sheedi dhamal on Sheedi mela at Mangopir in Karachi.[23][24]

Mor Nāch: meaning "Peacock dance", it is performed by men and women dressed in a peacock costume of 1300 feathers and apply full make-up and jewelry. The dance usually imitates the peacock, and is performed at festivals, events and cultural shows. Master Ghulam Hussain is the pioneer of Mor dance, and is known to give recognition to Mor dance all over Pakistan.[25][26]

## References

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1. ^ Kalhoro, Zulfiqar Ali (2021-06-17). "Depictions of the Dance of Leela in Sindhi Tombs". The Friday Times - Naya Daur. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
2. ^ "An Introduction To Sindhi Dance And Music". Sindhi Khazana. Retrieved 9 January 2023.
3. ^ a b c Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004). Essential Sindhi Cookbook. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303201-4.
4. ^ a b Nettl, Bruno; Arnold, Alison; Stone, Ruth M. (1998). The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music: South Asia : the Indian subcontinent. p. 754\. ISBN 9780824049461. `{{cite book}}`: `|work=` ignored (help)
5. ^ Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004). Essential Sindhi Culturebook. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303201-4.
6. ^ "جَهَمٽ جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
7. ^ "منڊي جهمپر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
8. ^ "پَلِي ڪپڻ واري جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
9. ^ "ٽه تاڙي جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
10. ^ "ڪنڊي ڪڍڻ واري جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
11. ^ "ڦيري واري جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
12. ^ "رَهڪي (پوک) راڌڻ واري جهمر : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
13. ^ "ڇيڄ : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
14. ^ "Sindhi Folk Dance Chhej - The Sindhu World Dance of Unity: Sindhi Group Dance: Cheti Chand: Bahrana: Jhulelal". thesindhuworld.com. 2021-04-09. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
15. ^ Advani, Mira Govind (1997). A Saga of Trials & Triumphs of Sindhis, 1947-1997. Indira Ghansham Mirchandani Service Centre. p. 33\. "All the way people dance and sing as the ritual is called. The dance is a Sindhi folk dance also called Chej."
16. ^ a b "Culture". www.jhulelal.com. Retrieved 2023-01-09.
17. ^ Reejhsinghani, Aroona (2004). Essential Sindhi Cookbook. Penguin Books India. ISBN 978-0-14-303201-4.
18. ^ admin (2012-01-01). "Story Of Pakistan | Lal Shahbaz Qalandar". Story Of Pakistan. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
19. ^ "سانگ : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
20. ^ a b "اسيموري : (Sindhianaسنڌيانا)". www.encyclopediasindhiana.org (in Sindhi). Retrieved 2024-04-03.
21. ^ "Sindhi crafts, music, dance attract visitors". The Nation. 2015-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
22. ^ "Sindh Folk Festival: Local singers enthral audience with performances". The Express Tribune. 2017-01-29. Retrieved 2024-04-04.
23. ^ Noman, Javeria (2021-02-09). "The Sheedi Community of Pakistan". Paradigm Shift. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
24. ^ "Crocodiles guard secrets of Pakistan's lost African past". Arab News PK. 2018-04-05. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
25. ^ Panhwar, Jamal (2022-05-16). "Ghulam Hussain, a peacock dancer from southern Pakistan". Pakistan Travel & Culture. Retrieved 2024-04-19.
26. ^ Jamshoro: Man who does the peacock dance - BBC URDU. Retrieved 2024-04-19 - via www.youtube.com.

## External links

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* Sindhi Sangat
* STDC
* Sindhi dance and music