Ghoomar - Traditional Dance of Community

The origin of this dance is believed to be from the royal households, where it began as a form of close, compact training on a small scale, which is evident from its gestures and movements. Initially, this dance was performed only in the secluded areas of royal palaces, and no men were allowed to witness it. Originally, it was performed as a tribute to the Goddess on auspicious occasions. Later, it became a dance of celebration as well. Due to the circular movements involved in the dance, it came to be known as Ghoomar (derived from "Ghoomno" meaning "to spin").

Ghoomar is performed in two main styles: solo and group. In group performances, the dancers form a circle. Ghoomar is performed slowly and rhythmically. Even today, in traditional Rajpurohit and Rajput families, there is a custom of organizing a special Ghoomar performance by the bride after the wedding, and her proficiency in the dance is closely observed. Besides this, there is another type of folk dance that is commonly performed by the general communities of Rajputana, which resembles Ghoomar but is actually fast-paced and lacks rhythmic grace. In such cases, the dancer choreographs her own steps. Men may also perform this type of dance, but Ghoomar is essentially a dance of women and is governed by specific customs.

Ghoomar is the traditional dance of the Rajpurohit community. It is performed within the community during weddings or special celebratory occasions in families by women. In essence, it is also a form of war dance. It is said to have originated during times of war. This war dance served as a form of combat training, especially for women, teaching them self-defense. In earlier times, when this dance was performed, the women wore outfits equipped with daggers and small weapons. The steps of this dance resembled close-combat training. When an enemy came very close, Rajpurohit women could defend themselves using these techniques. It is said that when Rajpurohit women performed Ghoomar, no men were allowed to watch or be present, not even a six-month-old boy. This rule was strictly followed. We must always remember and uphold our customs. These traditions remind us of the hardships our ancestors endured to keep our community alive.

There is a myth that Ghoomar originated from the Bhil community, which is completely incorrect. The Bhil community does not have any such dance. They do perform a kind of circular group dance, which they call Ghumro, and even men participate in it. However, Ghoomar is entirely a dance performed by women. It is believed that Ghoomar originated in the regions of Dhundhad and Marwar, where the Bhil population was very low. It’s possible that the confusion arose due to the circular movements in Ghoomar, as most group dances in Rajasthan are performed in a circle. Also, not every community has a traditional or caste-based dance. Anyone can perform such dances out of interest, but among the general communities, entertainment-oriented dancing has become more prominent than traditional forms.