Bhangra

Bhaṅgṛā (Punjabi: ਭੰਗੜਾ (Gurmukhi), (Shahmukhi), भांगड़ा (Devanagari); pronounced [pə̀ŋɡɽaː]) is a form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab region of India. Bhangra dance began as a folk dance conducted by Punjabi farmers to celebrate the coming of Vaisakhi, a sikh festival. Bhangra can be related to Assam's Bihu which is associated with farming; as the traditional Assamese society is predominantly dependent on farming. Parallels between Bhangra Bihu can be further drawn from the fact that the merriments for both of these music forms involve characteristic overtones with dances along with the enthralling beats of percussive musical instruments. Moreover, both Bihu and Bhangra involve high energy dance moves and sequences with young dancers in colorful clothing and the folk music played with the dhol. Both music/dance varieties, though having the similar themes, are distinctly different and have their proper origins in the respective states of Punjab and Assam. The specific moves of Bhangra reflect the manner in which villagers farmed their land. This musical art further became synthesized after the partition of India, when refugees from different parts of the Punjab shared their folk dances with individuals who resided in the regions they settled in. This hybrid dance became Bhangra. The dance started from just one move and evolved later on. It has been popularized by Punjabi artists from the Sikh communities, with which it is now commonly associated.^[1] Today, Bhangra dance survives in different forms and styles all over the globe – including pop music, film soundtracks, collegiate competitions and even talent shows.