Giddha Pao Kuriyoo!
Is it just me or are we seeing Giddha increasing in popularity these days?
Giddha was the folk dance of choice for our Grandmothers and Mothers. It allowed them a platform to get together with other women, and through boliyan talk openly about their daily lives. I asked my Mum if this was a form of therapy for them, and she said “yes”. It was a release for these women to be able to have this time for themselves and openly release supressed feelings in a joyful manner.
We see a great number of young women in Universities joining the “Bhangra” team and peforming these rather masculine dances at Bhangra competitions. Where is our traditional Giddha? I found this video which shows a performance by the UC Davis Giddha Squad at a competition this year. It was nice to see that these girls decided to create some uniqueness to the monotony these Bhangra competitions have began to display. Hopefully this will be a continuing trend and we will see more incorporations of Giddha for women at University levels. There is a sense of elegance and femininity that Giddha has, and which Bhangra lacks for women.
I look forward to the day when young girls are able to immerse themselves in Giddha and learn Boliyan and truly appreciate what our culture has to offer. Maybe we will see a Giddha Academy some day? I am hopeful.
With Teeyan season upon us, we can take the first step in going and attending these events in our areas. In the California we have these events scheduled annually and it’s become larger every year. Please make sure to attend if you know of Teeyan happening in your area. It would be a great way to take your Grandmothers, Mothers, Aunts, Sisters, Daughters, and Friends out to spend an afternoon together. (And it’s a great workout!)
How do you all feel about this subject? How can we begin to make a progressive change towards incorporating Giddha into the lives of younger women?
37 Responses to “Giddha Pao Kuriyoo!”
I'm so glad you brought this up Anandica!
The bhangra scene seems saturated while there definitely seems to be a space just waiting to be filled with giddha. Some teams have already formed, but I'd love it if giddha took a different route than bhangra has taken.
Giddha's function (in addition to its elegance)- as a means of communication, expression, and maybe even documentation- is so important. Simply competing to award a prize for the 'best' giddha seems to miss the entire point of giddha, though it might have some preservative value.
I'd love to see not only traditional giddha and boliyan preserved, but giddha as a means of expression and creativity for today's generations and issues in the diaspora. While boliyan about in-laws are still relevant, they're less so as families move away from the traditional extended-family living structure towards nuclear-family living.
With this shift, it would be fantastic to see boliyan about dealing with things like balancing work, household, and family; boliyan about love in the context of today's dating/marriage scene; boliyan that express and release the frustration of overworked, under-appreciated, and isolated mothers; etc.
We should write our own.
(It would then be fascinating to compare today's boliyan to older boliyan and see how our lives are transforming…)
I’m so glad you brought this up Anandica!
The bhangra scene seems saturated while there definitely seems to be a space just waiting to be filled with giddha. Some teams have already formed, but I’d love it if giddha took a different route than bhangra has taken.
Giddha’s function (in addition to its elegance)- as a means of communication, expression, and maybe even documentation- is so important. Simply competing to award a prize for the ‘best’ giddha seems to miss the entire point of giddha, though it might have some preservative value.
I’d love to see not only traditional giddha and boliyan preserved, but giddha as a means of expression and creativity for today’s generations and issues in the diaspora. While boliyan about in-laws are still relevant, they’re less so as families move away from the traditional extended-family living structure towards nuclear-family living.
With this shift, it would be fantastic to see boliyan about dealing with things like balancing work, household, and family; boliyan about love in the context of today’s dating/marriage scene; boliyan that express and release the frustration of overworked, under-appreciated, and isolated mothers; etc.
We should write our own.
(It would then be fascinating to compare today’s boliyan to older boliyan and see how our lives are transforming…)
Giddha certainly needs help to become more popular here in the US. Although I think that women can perform bhangra with equal vigor and zeal, I do not find any visual appeal in women slappin their thighs and doing other masculine moves. I have judged at bhangra contests before and I find it very hard to give points to all girls bhangra teams or to mixed teams. It just doesn't do it for me.
Giddha is tough-you have to be able to sing, carry a tune and make sure everyone can hear you, and dance at the same time-very vigorously. There is no dholi to guide you. The team is judged on not just the dancing but also the quality of the singing and the depth of the boliyaan. Hope it takes off in the US.
Giddha certainly needs help to become more popular here in the US. Although I think that women can perform bhangra with equal vigor and zeal, I do not find any visual appeal in women slappin their thighs and doing other masculine moves. I have judged at bhangra contests before and I find it very hard to give points to all girls bhangra teams or to mixed teams. It just doesn’t do it for me.
Giddha is tough-you have to be able to sing, carry a tune and make sure everyone can hear you, and dance at the same time-very vigorously. There is no dholi to guide you. The team is judged on not just the dancing but also the quality of the singing and the depth of the boliyaan. Hope it takes off in the US.
Modern boliyan for the working woman – here, I'll give you all a start:
Naley hoo kar ke, naley haan kar ke,
Kam tu thakee ayee mutiare, bhande saaf kar de
Modern boliyan for the working woman – here, I’ll give you all a start:
Naley hoo kar ke, naley haan kar ke,
Kam tu thakee ayee mutiare, bhande saaf kar de
I would love to learn the giddha i have always been fascinated with it. i love the dance and the boliyaan. I only wish there was a class that i could go and learn from in Coventry UK. If anyone knows then please let me know.
I would love to learn the giddha i have always been fascinated with it. i love the dance and the boliyaan. I only wish there was a class that i could go and learn from in Coventry UK. If anyone knows then please let me know.
hi i want to gidda can somebody tell me if there is any classes in south east london
thank you
hi i want to gidda can somebody tell me if there is any classes in south east london
thank you
I am a huge fan of the Giddha dance and have loved it since my childhood. Unfortunately it is I feel getting rarer and rarer. I would love to see some old wedding movies from the 1980's, 1990's and early 2000 on which giddha has been filmed if anyone wouldn't mind volunteering a dvd copy. I would gladly pay to see them, they will not be passed on or shown to anyone else. I'd even settle for an audio recording if you don't want to be seen!!!
Seriously, I would realy appreciate it if someone could fulfull my request.
I am a huge fan of the Giddha dance and have loved it since my childhood. Unfortunately it is I feel getting rarer and rarer. I would love to see some old wedding movies from the 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2000 on which giddha has been filmed if anyone wouldn’t mind volunteering a dvd copy. I would gladly pay to see them, they will not be passed on or shown to anyone else. I’d even settle for an audio recording if you don’t want to be seen!!!
Seriously, I would realy appreciate it if someone could fulfull my request.
hi i am japneet kaur gill. i have just come here in london from punjab.I have been doing gidha n bhangra from many years and i have won many first prizes in that.If someone is interested to learn gidha from me then please contact me. M ready to be ur teacher n that will be my part time job.
hi i am japneet kaur gill. i have just come here in london from punjab.I have been doing gidha n bhangra from many years and i have won many first prizes in that.If someone is interested to learn gidha from me then please contact me. M ready to be ur teacher n that will be my part time job.
If anyone would like to learn giddha in east london, please contact me on 079 2828 0300 – thanks
If anyone would like to learn giddha in east london, please contact me on 079 2828 0300 – thanks
sandy…………….iam best in gidda if any one intrested thenreport me……
sandy…………….iam best in gidda if any one intrested thenreport me……
hi i m harpreet kaur i have come from Punjab to london in slough
i m very good and talented in gidda and bhangra i was captain of gidda team and i have won lot of prizes i have done many performances
if u would like to learn gidda and bhangra then contact me on 07574467509
thank you for reading , good luck ,god bless you
Harpreet kaur
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
hi i m harpreet kaur i have come from Punjab to london in slough
i m very good and talented in gidda and bhangra i was captain of gidda team and i have won lot of prizes i have done many performances
if u would like to learn gidda and bhangra then contact me on 07574467509
thank you for reading , good luck ,god bless you
Harpreet kaur
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Throughout my whole life there has always been giddha in my house, but…apart from when I was very young my gran and then my mum and now my wife do not let me be present whenever there's a special occassion or family get-together and the women start their giddha and bolyan. I know the reason for it because I've heard it with my own ears but I'd like to know from my friends here on the langar hall if you too have similar experiences. What I'm talking about here is some of the X-rated lyrics of the bolyan songs the ladies sing when they do their giddha. I've witnessed my gran and mum and aunties sing bolyans that can only be described as absolutely filthy. I can understand why they don't want me and other men in the room when they're doing it. Which is a shame because those ad-lib bolyans are actually very funny and clever…but to be honest with you I very much respect my aunties and mum so its probably best I don't witness their giddha because its difficult to see them in the same light again after hearing what they sing.
Throughout my whole life there has always been giddha in my house, but…apart from when I was very young my gran and then my mum and now my wife do not let me be present whenever there's a special occassion or family get-together and the women start their giddha and bolyan. I know the reason for it because I've heard it with my own ears but I'd like to know from my friends here on the langar hall if you too have similar experiences. What I'm talking about here is some of the X-rated lyrics of the bolyan songs the ladies sing when they do their giddha. I've witnessed my gran and mum and aunties sing bolyans that can only be described as absolutely filthy. I can understand why they don't want me and other men in the room when they're doing it. Which is a shame because those ad-lib bolyans are actually very funny and clever…but to be honest with you I very much respect my aunties and mum so its probably best I don't witness their giddha because its difficult to see them in the same light again after hearing what they sing.
Dear all,
We have started giddha classes in east london and they are free! Classes start on 27th August 2010 from 5.30pm onwards at our community centre. Please email haswa@btconnect.com for more info.
Regards,
Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA)
Hornchurch, Essex, UK
Dear all,
We have started giddha classes in east london and they are free! Classes start on 27th August 2010 from 5.30pm onwards at our community centre. Please email haswa@btconnect.com for more info.
Regards,
Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association (HASWA)
Hornchurch, Essex, UK
Hi, we have just launched a Giddha/Bhangra directory on http://www.boliyanbook.com so that Punjabis can find classes/groups near by to join: http://boliyanbook.com/abb_giddhabhangraclasses.h…
So if anyone wants to list their class/group/club on the site, please get in contact via our website, thanks! http://www.boliyanbook.com
I Really Enjoy Very Much When I See Giddha
Hi i am looking to learn within windsor or slough. Can any confirm if boliyon book translates meaning in english. Many thanks. Jas