| Bhangra is a lively form of folk music and dance that | | | | Teeyan to welcome the monsoon. |
| originates from Punjab. People traditionally performed | | | | Today bhangra is not just a dance form, but a term |
| Bhangra when celebrating the harvest. While Bhangra | | | | that embraces a new form of music. Initially it was a |
| began as a part of harvest festival celebrations, it | | | | dance performed to celebrate a good harvest. Soon |
| eventually became a part of such diverse occasions | | | | it was not just confined to the harvest time but |
| as weddings and New Year celebrations. Moreover, | | | | found its place at weddings and almost all other |
| during the last thirty years, Bhangra has enjoyed a | | | | celebratory occasions. It looked beyond the boundaries |
| surge in popularity worldwide, both in traditional form | | | | of Punjab with its inclusion in innumerable Bollywood |
| and as a fusion with genres such as hip-hop, house, | | | | films. Performers like Daler Mehndi, Bhuppi, Jassi, etc. |
| and reggae. Bhangra is truly becoming more popular | | | | have taken it to the top of the Indipop charts. Finally, it |
| worldwide and people of non-Punjabi background are | | | | crossed the seas to become the most 'happening' |
| listening to and performing Bhangra. | | | | thing on the Asian club scene in London. Modern DJs |
| Bhangra includes tricks and acrobatic feats in its | | | | found that the foot-tapping rhythms |
| performance. The female version of the bhangra is | | | | of bhangra were almost begging to be remixed. |
| known as the gidha. It is performed by a group of | | | | Today, you can't escape it. It's on television; you hear it |
| female dancers, but like in the bhangra, pairs of | | | | in cabs and discos alike. It has crossed all boundaries |
| dancers or individual dancers break away to show off | | | | of religion, caste, community and |
| their skill while the rest of the dancers clap in rhythm. | | | | country. Bhangra has gone international. |
| The gidha is performed at the time of the festival of | | | | |