Phulpati Dance

Understand

Where Phulpati Dance comes from

Phulpati dance is performed in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh by unmarried girls during the festival of Holi. The dance is associated with the Dashain festival in Madhya Pradesh, which is celebrated for fifteen days — the seventh day is called Phulpati and is considered the most auspicious day of the festival. The Phulpati padayatra (procession) becomes a social gathering where people meet and greet each other, and the dance is the central celebratory act for the unmarried women of the community. The dance is also performed in the semi-rural areas around the Malwa region.

How it's practiced

Phulpati dance is performed by groups of unmarried girls in colourful traditional costumes and ornaments, singing songs and dancing in a circle or open formation to mark the Holi festival. The dance's movements are joyful and celebratory, with the central purpose to enable unmarried women to celebrate Holi with fanfare. Music is provided by the dhol and the dholak, with vocal refrains from the participants. Costume is the colourful festive dress of the Malwa region — the ghagra-choli or lehenga with heavy silver jewellery and floral ornaments. The dance is performed at the Phulpati day of the Dashain festival and at the Holi festival proper, in both rural and semi-rural settings of the Malwa region.