Malwai Giddha

Understand

Where Malwai Giddha comes from

Malwai Giddha (also called Babeyan da Gidhha or 'the old men's dance') is the folk dance of men from the Malwa region of southern Punjab, associated with the districts of Muktsar, Bathinda, Faridkot, Sangrur, Ferozpur, Mansa and Patiala. Originally performed by the 'Babey' (old men) of the community, the dance is now performed by men of all ages. Like women's Giddha it features boliyan — teasing, comic and occasionally pointed folk-verse — but unlike women's Giddha, the men accompany themselves with hand-held instruments, making it a self-instrumented dance. The form preserves the older Punjab men's traditions that coexist with the better-known Bhangra.

How it's practiced

Malwai Giddha is performed by groups of men in a circle. Each performer carries and plays his own hand-held instrument while singing the boliyan — the tumbi (a single-string drone instrument), the chimta (fire-tongs-shaped cymbal), the kato (small brass cymbal) and the kartara (wooden clappers). The dancing step is a small shuffling movement, with the upper body swaying to the rhythm. The boliyan are characterised by teasing and comic commentary — particularly about women, marriage and social satire. Costume is the everyday Punjabi kurta-lamba, often with the colourful turban (pagri). The dance is performed at weddings and at harvest festivals.