Jhumar or Jhoomar (also called Ghumbar in
Sandalbar
The Sandal Bar ( pa, ) is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the southern part of Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost in width (west to east) and in length (north to south). "Bar", in the local l ...
area) is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the
Multan
Multan (; ) is a city in Punjab, Pakistan, on the bank of the Chenab River. Multan is Pakistan's seventh largest city as per the 2017 census, and the major cultural, religious and economic centre of southern Punjab.
Multan is one of the List ...
and
Balochistan
Balochistan ( ; bal, بلۏچستان; also romanised as Baluchistan and Baluchestan) is a historical region in Western and South Asia, located in the Iranian plateau's far southeast and bordering the Indian Plate and the Arabian Sea coastline. ...
, also thrived in
Sandalbar
The Sandal Bar ( pa, ) is a region between the rivers Chenab and Ravi in Punjab, Pakistan. It is located in the southern part of Rechna Doab. It spreads over almost in width (west to east) and in length (north to south). "Bar", in the local l ...
areas (Faisal abad, Jhang, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, Toba Tek Singh districts) of
Punjab
Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...
. It is slower and more rhythmic form. The word "Jhumar" comes from ''Jhum/Jhoom'', which means Swaying. The songs evoke a quality which reminds of swaying. Though the content of these songs is varied - they are usually love with emotional songs too. The Jhumar is a dance of ecstasy.
Jhumar is performed at the wedding ceremonies usually. It is a living demonstration of the happiness. The dance is mostly performed by the
Balochi and people of Southern and central Punjab. The emphasis of Jhumar is recreating the gaits of animals and birds. The movement of animals, the ploughing of the field, sowing of seeds and harvesting are shown in the original progression. The dance is also performed in circle, to the tune of emotional songs.
Dancing style
Performed exclusively by men, it is a common feature to see three generations - father, son and grandson - dancing all together at weddings. The dance is without acrobatics. Each region of Southern Punjab has its own variation of Jhomar. The movement of the arms only is considered its main forte. Feet are musically placed in front and backwards and turnings are taken to the right, sometimes the dancers place their one hand below the ribs on the left and gesticulate with the right hand. This dance does not tire out its performers and it is normally danced on moonlight nights in the villages away from the habitation. The dancers of this dance let-off a sound, "''Dee Dee''" in tune with the beat of the dance which adds to its grace. This dance has also been integrated into
Bhangra in the eastern parts of Punjab.
Types
There are three main types of Jhoomar, each of which has a different mood and is therefore suited to different occasionally, reason of its predominating mood. They are:
* Satluj Jhoomar
* Beas Jhoomar
* Chenab Jhoomar
* Multani Jhoomar
* Jhoomar Taari
Dancers
After the
independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
of
Pakistan
Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 24 ...
in 1947, many dancers moved away and the dance started disappearing, but
Pokhar Singh (1916-2002) learned Jhoomar from his uncle and performed it since. Before his death he taught the dance to the students at D.A.V. College, Jalalabad,
Eastern Punjab.
See also
*
Bhangra (dance)
Bhangra is a type of traditional folk dance of Punjab, originating in the Sialkot area of Punjab, Pakistan. It is done in the season of harvesting. According to Manuel (2001), bhangra is especially associated with the vernal Vaisakhi festival ...
*
Folk dances of Punjab
Punjabi dances are an array of folk and religious dances of the Punjabi people indigenous to the Punjab region, straddling the border of India and Pakistan. The style of Punjabi dances ranges from very high energy to slow and reserved, and there ...
*
Punjabis
The Punjabis ( Punjabi: ; ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ; romanised as Panjābīs), are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group associated with the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of eastern Pakistan and northwestern India. The ...
*
Saraikis
The Saraikis ( skr, ), are an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group inhabiting parts of central and southeastern Pakistan, primarily in the southern part of the Pakistani province of Punjab
They are mainly found in a region of southern Punjab known ...
References
{{reflist
External links
Watch Jhumar Performance Video Online Punjabi culture
Folk dances of Punjab
Dance in Pakistan
Bhangra (music)
Punjabi words and phrases