Dhola Dance

Understand

Where Dhola Dance comes from

Dhola is the women's circle-song-and-dance of western Rajasthan, particularly Marwar (Jodhpur, Barmer, Jaisalmer) and parts of Shekhawati (Sikar, Jhunjhunu). The tradition takes its name from the medieval romantic ballad of Dhola-Maru — the love story of the prince Dhola of the Chauhan Rajputs and the queen Maru of Narwar — which is one of the most popular narrative poems of Rajasthani literature, with variants in Marwari, Shekhawati, Mewari and other dialects. The Dhola song tradition is performed by women in a circle at weddings, with the singing moving through the entire ballad over hours. The tradition is closely related to the Rajasthan-wide body of women's folk-song repertoire and is a defining feature of Rajasthani women's wedding culture.

How it's practiced

Dhola is performed by groups of women, sometimes dozens strong, sitting or standing in a circle. A lead singer (the boli) begins the ballad's line and the ensemble responds, line by line, with claps and gentle swaying of the body and the arms. The pace of the dance-singing is slow and meditative, the words carrying the focus. Dancers wear the colourful Rajasthani sari with heavy jewellery and dupatta. The Dhola-Maru narrative song is performed at weddings, particularly at the bride's side, and through the night on mehndi and sangeet evenings. The form is one of the most loved women's traditions of Marwar.