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The heartland of India still lies in the lakhs of villages that exist in India. Simple and friendly people who lead a basic yet colorful life characterize the Indian countryside. There is a drastic difference in the way of life, culture and art forms of the people living in the cities and those living in the villages of India. The village culture that encompasses music, fine arts and other traditions are based on a very different set of beliefs and principles. One such rural art that has strong roots even today is the folk dance or dance forms that are popular mainly in rural India. There is a whole range of folk dances of India that are immensely popular even at the international level. Folk Delight The Indian dance forms are primarily divided into two classes, namely, classical and folk dance. The Indian classical dances are comparatively more complex and have a firm set of guiding rules. The folk dances on the other hand are relatively simple but are also based on a specific framework. The folk dances of India are inspired by the village way of life, rural or mythological folklore and fables and country music. However, mastering these folk dances is equally challenging and requires the dancers to practice extensively to perfect the movements. Every region or state in India has a specific folk dance associated with it. The prominent types of folk dances include Dandiya and Garba from the state of Gujarat, Bhangra and Gidda from Punjab, Tamasha or Lavani from Maharashtra, Manipuri dance from Manipur and Rajasthani dance from the colorful land of Rajasthan. Regional dances Dandiya and Garba are two of the most colorful and rhythmic folk dances in India. Both these forms originate from Gujarat and are mainly performed during the festival of Navratri, which precedes the festival of lights, Diwali. The dancers in Dandiya dance in pairs with two long and slender sticks. These sticks are known as Dandiya and hence the name. The Garba is also a Gujarati form of dance. In this, the dancers dance in one large circle and include hand gestures and claps as the prominent form of action. One of the Indian folk dances that have acquired global recognition is the Bhangra. This dance form hails from the north Indian of Punjab and has extremely vigorous and challenging movements based on great foot-tapping music. Usually, the male dancers perform this dance form while its female version is known as the Gidda. These folk dances of India have been the mainstay of the culture and ethnicity of the country. These forms are still being cherished and followed extensively within the country.
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