Women have a different but no less exuberant dance called gidda. During Lohri occasion, the Punjabi women revelling joy, give vent to their suppressed feelings in a male dominated society through the Giddha. Slogans known as bolis are sung while dancing which exhibit the deep human feeling. The dance is derived from the ancient ring dance. One of the girls plays on the drum or 'dholki' while others form a circle. While moving in a circle, the girls raise their hands to the level of their shoulders and clap their hands in unison.Rhythm is generally provided by clapping of hands. Quick is the movement of the feet in its faster parts that it is difficult for the spectator even to wink till the tempo falls again. The traditional dress during giddha dance is short female style shirt (choli) with ghagra or lehnga (loose shirt upto ankle-length) or ordinary Punjabi Salwar-Kamiz, rich in colour, cloth and design. The ornaments that they wear are suggi-phul (worn on head) to pazaibs (anklets), haar-hamela, baazu-band and raani-haar.
The month of shravan is the time when the exuberance of Giddha takes the form of the Teeyan festival.It is a unique way to celebrate the rainy season. The dance usually starts when the women folk gather on the bank of some river or pond under big shady trees. Swings are thrown over the branches and women start singing, swinging and dancing merrily. On this day, the married daughters come to their parent’s house and their brothers fix the swings for them. Dressed in their best attire and adorned by ornaments, the girls look like fairies and as they swing they share their anxieties with each other through songs. The festival continues till the full moon of the month and there is a gala function on the concluding day. What is your experience of Teeyan?
During Lohri occasion, the Punjabi women revelling joy, give vent to their suppressed feelings in a male dominated society through the Giddha. Slogans known as bolis are sung while dancing which exhibit the deep human feeling. These bolis cover varied themes from nature to excesses committed by the husband and his relatives, some talk about love affairs to the loneliness of a bride separated from her groom. The Punjabi salwar kameez or lehnga, rich in color and decoration is worn. No musical instruments except perhaps a dholak accompanies a Giddha.
Dont the punjabana's look beautiful?? Well I had learnt those boliyan's once.. Do you know them??? aari aari aari heth barote de datan kare kuaari datan kiun karadi dand chite rakhan di mari dand chite kiun karadi sohani banan di mari sohani kiun bannadi prit karan di mari sun lai hire ni main tera bhaur sarakari ............. choope ganne chabe site rakhi khet di karadi hir siaalan di alak bachheri paladi ............. ute hir ne laee fulakari kudti khadar di paee kudiaan 'ch chand chadh giaa hir gidhe vich aaee ............. jeth had vich anb bathere saun jamanoon pilan ranjhiaa aa ja ve pa ke patari vich keelan Nice na??
