Yashashwini & Ekta

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The
sound of bagpipes in a remote village in Uttarakhand is rather rare and
unusual. Here we were, listening to them in Baijnath in Bageshwar district, with
drums playing in sync. In the distance, we could also hear high-pitched voices
singing, interspersed with laughter and
clapping. We arrived at what appeared to
be a festival, but was in fact a local wedding. We could now see the faces of
those playing the instruments. The
musicians also danced and sang. Dressed in vibrant colours, the performers used
shields and swords, and danced in pairs. In weddings here, the local community
follows the procession, and the bride rides on a horse till the wedding hall.
 
 This
is the Choliya dance and it originates in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. No
women participate, it is a dance of warriors. Influences of the British Raj and
Rajput culture are visible in the bagpipes and swords they use. Choliya as an
art form is a confluence of music and performance that is over a thousand years
old.
 
 The drummers, known as
 
 dholies
 
 are predominantly Dalits, while the other musicians are from a mix of castes,
but mainly Rajputs. The performance sets a celebratory tone for the wedding.
People still believe that Choliya has
the power to ward off evil spirits and protect the couple from ill-luck.

Drums, bagpipes and Choliya dance

ढोल, मशकबीन और छोलिया डांस

ڈھول، بیگ پائپ اور چھولیا رقص

ଢୋଲ, ବ୍ୟାଗ୍‌ପାଇପ୍‌ ଏବଂ ଛୋଲିୟା ନୃତ୍ୟ

Bageshwar

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Drums, bagpipes and Choliya dance

Choliya troupes in Uttarakhand integrate Scottish bagpipes into rural Indian music

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