Bhangra

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Bhangra dance and music traces its origins to the Punjab region of Northern India. The exact age of the dance is uncertain but evidence of it can be traced as far back as 300 B.C. Although, some historians and gurus argue the dance could in fact be around 3,000 years old.
It was practiced by the Punjabi farmers of the villages and mainly performed during the harvest festival of Bhaisakhi. To this day, Bhangra is still danced to welcome in the spring weather. Its main purpose is to simply have fun and celebrate life.

The Forms.

There are nine forms of Bhangra traditionally practiced in various regions of the Punjab nation.

• Gidha: The dance performed only by women. The movements are presented more gracefully with an obvious feminine flair.
• Julli: A Muslim sitting- dance practiced by priests or holy men as a form of worship on hermitages.
• Jhumar: A folk dance where the dancers circle around a drum, clapping and chanting.
• Kikli: A dance in which four girls join hands weaving in and out of a circle while singing.
• Saami: A dance performed by women from the Sandalbar region.
• Daankara: A dance performed for weddings by the men. The clack sticks together in time with the drum while traveling in a circle.
• Dhamal: A very wild dance with aggressive shoulder bounces, head shaking, arm waving and shouting.
• Luddi: A dance in which the dancer extends one arm and the other behind his head while swaying like a snake in time to the music, almost as though in a trance.
• Gatka: A martial art performed by the Sikh men.

Read more at Suite101: An Indian Folk Dance Called Bhangra http://indian-south-asian-dance.suite101.com/article.cfm/an-indian-folk-dance-called-bhangra#ixzz0qldRkE2y

Art,Religion,Culture Quiz

1. In Indian musical terminology, what is the feminine of Raga?

Ans : Ragini

2. What term is used for initiation into Sikhism?

Ans : Pahul

3. In Hindu mythology, what is the name of the auspicious jewel Lord Vishnu wears on a pendant around his neck?

Ans : Kaustubham

4. What name was given to the city of Yathrib by Prophet Mohammed?

Ans : Medina

5. According to legend, which deity was Ved Vyasa's scribe as he dictated the story of the Mahabharata?

Ans : Ganesha

6. Consider the following statements about Sikh Gurus:
1. Banda Bahadur was appointed as the military leader of the Sikhs by Guru Tegh Bahadur.
2. Guru Arjan Dev become the Sikh Guru after Guru Ram Das.
3. Guru Arjan Dev gave to Sikhs their own script- Gurumukhi.

Which of the statements gives is/are correct?
(a) 1 only                 (b) 2 and 3                 (c) 1 and 3                 (d) 1 and 2

Ans : D

7. Who among the following is well known as an exponent of flute?
(a) Debu Choudhuri                     (b) Madhup Mudgal
(c) Ronu Mazumdar                     (d) Shafaat Ahmad

Ans : C

8. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?
(a) Rig-veda                             (b) Yajur-veda
(c) Atharva-veda                      (d) Sama-veda

Ans : C

9. What is the interval between two 'Maha Kumbh' melas at the same place?
(a) 6 years                 (b) 10 years                 (c) 12 years                 (d) 15 years

Ans : C

10. Who amongst the following is regarded as the historical founder of Jainism?
(a) Mahavira                 (b) Sisunaga
(c) Rishabha                 (d) Gautama

Ans : A

11. Which Ragamala depicts the martial arts by introducing horsemen in battle?

Ans : Nataraga/ Natanarayana

12. What is the name of the elephant which serves as the mount of Lord Indra?

Ans : Airavata

13. Name the sea demoness known for trapping birds by illusion, who tried to obstruct Hanuman on his way to Lanka?

Ans : Simhika

14. Which traditional Asian performing art derives its name from the Japanese words for 'singing', 'dancing' and 'acting'?

Ans : Kabuki

15. Who founded 'Yoga Shastra' the school of Hindu philosophy

Ans : Patanjali

16. Who established Khalsa the Sikh order

Ans : Guru Gobind Singh

17. The Meenakshi temple at Madurai is the monument of
(a) Cholas                    (b) Cheras
(c) Pallavas                  (d) Pandyas

Ans : D

18. Tirupati temple of Lord Venkateswara is situated in which state

Ans : Andhra Pradesh

19. Which indian state banned the forceful religious conversions

Ans : Tamil Nadu

20. Bhagavata Mela is a folk dance of

Ans : Andhra Pradesh

21. The famous Sun Temple is located in which Indian state

Ans : Orissa

22. Pungi is a dance form related to the state

Ans : Himachal Pradesh

23. Garba a popular folk dance is associated with Indian state

Ans : Gujarat

24. Bhangra is the folk dance of which Indian state

Ans : Punjab

25. Who is the director of the Sanskrit film Adi Sankara

Ans : G.V. Iyer

26. Which is the first Sanskrit film produced in India

Ans : Adi Sankara

27. Which is the first talkie film

Ans : The Jazz Singer in 1927

28. Who is known as Barefoot Painter

Ans : M.F.Hussain

29. The Mohiniyattam dance form was developed in which state

Ans : Kerala

30. Which of the following is the most prevalent folk dance of Uttar Pradesh
(a) Naati                          (b) Bhangra
(c) Tamasha                     (d) Nautanki

Ans : D

31. Which of the following is a classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh
(a) Odissi                         (b) Kuchipudi
(c) Kathakali                    (d) Mohiniyattam

Ans : B

32. The role of religion has been
(a) to bring people closer
(b) to provide faith to people in distress
(c) Harmonizing
(d) All the above

Ans : D

33. In which tribe the divorced women is most respected
(a) Korawa of Mizapur                 (b) Santhals
(c) Lushai of Assam                      (d) Khasi tribe

Ans : A

34. The shuddi movement to bring back to the Hindufold people converted to other religions from Hinduism was launched by

Ans : Arya Samajam

35. Which of the following is not a varna (group) of the Aryan society
(a) Vaishyas                     (b) Brahmanas
(c) Shudras                      (d) Sabhas

Ans : D

36. Which of the societies practiced polyandry
(a) Nyinba of Nepal                          (b) Medieval of Europeans
(c) Wodabe of Africa                        (d) Todas of India

Ans : D

37. What is the most essential element of nationality
(a) A common race                                             (b) A common language
(c) A common religion                                         (d) Corporate sentiment

Ans : C

38. Marriage in which the bridegroom gets the bride in exchange of some money
(a) Asura                         (b) Brahma
(c) Rashasa                      (d) Prajapatia

Ans : B

39. A childless widow who could cohabit with her brother-in-law until the birth of a son. This practice was known as
(a) Niyoga                     (b) Levirate
(c) Sororate                   (d) Nantru

Ans : A

40. God created society just as he did the animate and inanimate objects of the world. This view comes from the
(a) Divine Origin Theory
(b) Evolution Theory
(c) Religious Theory

Ans : A

41. Who is considered as the father of Jainism

Ans : Mahavira

42. The oldest Veda is
(a) Atharva Veda                     (b) Rig Veda
(c) Yajur Veda                         (d) Sama Veda

Ans : B

43. Ramakrishna Mission was established by

Ans : Swami Vivekananda

44. The Simhastha Kumbh Mela was held at
(a) Nasik                 (b) Ujjain                 (c) Prayag                     (d) Haridwar

Ans : A

45. Who was the first recipient of a scholarship offered by the Indian Society of Oriental Arts in 1907

Ans : Nandala Bose

46. Who is the director of Pather Pachali

Ans : Satyajit Ray

47. Who was the director of the movie Salaam Bombay

Ans : Mira Nair

48. With which musical instrument is Shiv Kumar Sharma associated
(a) Tabala                 (b) Santoor                 (c) Sitar                 (d) Shehnai

Ans : B

49. Keleucharan Mahapatra was an exponent in

Ans : Odissi

50. Dandiya Ras is a dance form of which state
(a) Kerala                     (b) Bengal                 (c) Gujarat                 (d) Maharashtra

Ans : C

Sistine Chapel ceiling

The Sistine Chapel ceiling, painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512, at the commission of Pope Julius II, is one of the most renowned artworks of the High Renaissance. The ceiling is that of the large Papal Chapel built within the Vatican between 1477 and 1480 by Pope Sixtus IV after whom it is named the Sistine Chapel. The chapel is the location for Papal Conclaves and many important services.

KING OF FAUVES

The Goldfish, 1912

o/c, 146x97 cm
Matisse

Since the proto-colorists were called "Fauvists," it has been my long time goal to study that most-noted Fauve, Henri Matisse (1800-1950). Matisse persisted in his ultra colorful style even after the era of the short-lived Fauvist movement (1905-7), which featured stylized realism and assigned non-local color to objects.

The giant Pablo Picasso overshadowed Matisse as they both worked simultaneously to create Modern Art in the early part of the Twentieth Century. Picasso, the great Cubist, and Matisse, the father of Fauvism, were friendly rivals. The one brought us the line, the other brought us color in the Modern Art sense.

Famous Persons

Pandit Bhimsen Gururaj Joshi (Kannada: ಪಂಡಿತ ಭೀಮಸೇನ ಗುರುರಾಜ ಜೋಷಿ, Marathi: पंडित भीमसेन गुरुराज जोशी, born February 4, 1922) is an Indian vocalist in theHindustani classical tradition. A member of the Kirana Gharana (school), he is renowned for the khayal form of singing, as well as for his popular renditions of devotional music (bhajans and abhangs). In 2008, he was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour.

Rukmini Devi Arundale (Tamil:ருக்மிணி தேவி அருண்டேல்) (February 29, 1904 – February 24, 1986^[1] ) was an Indian theosophist, dancer and choreographer in Indian classical dancer form of Bharatnatyam, and also an activist for animal rights, animal welfare and vegetarianism.Rukmini Devi features in India Today's list of '100 People Who Shaped India' She was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1956, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1967.

Suryakant Tripathi 'Nirala' (सूर्यकांत त्रिपाठी 'निराला') (February 21, 1896 – October 15, 1961) was one of the most famous figures of the modern Hindi literature. He was a poet, novelist, essayist and story-writer. He also drew many sketches.Nirala's poem Himmat Karne Walon Ki Har Nahi Hoti (Those who have courage never fail) was depicted as the favorite poem of the main character in Hindi film, Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara (2005) played and produced by Anupam Kher

Music watch

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GHARANAS OR SCHOOLS OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC 

The Gharana or family is a school of a particular style of singing or playing instruments, or a traditionally characteristic individual style. The Gharanas are particularly relevant to the Hindustani Classical music. The birth of Gharanas must have taken place in the 18th century with the idea of preserving the tradition of music and the musical compositions. A Gharana has got a particular discipline, system and style. The character and style of traditionally disciplined music of a gharana remains with one generation only, and in due course one of the brilliant pupils adds his own individual contribution and creates a new style of singing. In his perceptive book, "Indian Musical Traditions", Sri Vamanrao Deshpande says that "each gharana has its origin in the distinctive quality of the voice of its founder and it is this quality which broadly determines his style."

 The following are the important Gharanas of Hindustani vocal music:

Agra Gharana: Founders: Haji Sujan Khan; Ustad Gagghe Khuda Bakhsh Exponents: Faiyyaz Khan, Latafat Hussain Khan, Dinkar Kaikini and Lalith Rao.

Benaras Gharana: Founder: Pandit Gopal Mishra (a saarangiya) Exponents: Rajan Mishra and Sajan Mishra.

Bhendi Bazaar Gharana: Founder: Ustad Chajju Khan Exponents: Aman Ali Khan, Shashikala Koratkar, etc.

Delhi Gharana: Founder: Ustad Mamman Khan (a saarangiya) Exponents: Chand Khan, Nasir Ahmed Khan, Usman Khan, Iqbal Ahmed Khan and Krishna Bisht.

Gwalior Gharana: Founders: Ustad Hassu Khan, Ustad Haddu Khan and Ustad Nathu Khan Exponents: Balakrishna Buva Ichalkaranjikar, Vinayakrao Patwardhan, Vishnu Digambar Palsukar, D.V.Paluskar, Narayan Rao Vyas, Omkarnath Thakur, Malini Rajurkar, Veena Sahasrabuddhe, Sunanda Patnaik, Ram Marathe, Rajubhaya Poochwale, Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit and Ulhas Kashalkar.

Indore Gharana: Founder: Ustad Amir Khan

Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana: Founder: Ustad Alladiya Khan Exponents: Kesarbai Kerkar, Mogubai Kurdikar, Kishori Amonkar, Mallikarjun Mansur, Vinayakrao Kulkarni, Ashwini Bhide, Padmavati Shaligram-Gokhale, Arati Ankalikar, Shruti Sadolikar and Padma Talwalkar.

Jaipur-Mewati Gharana: Founder: Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Exponents: Motiram, Maniram, Jasraj, Pratap Narayan, Sanjeev Abhyankar

Kirana Gharana: Founders: Abdul Karim Khan and Abdul Wahid Khan Exponents: Sawai Gandharva, Gangubai Hangal, Bhimsen Joshi, Hirabai Barodekar, Basavaraj Rajguru, Rasiklal Andharia, Prabha Atre, Phiroz Dastur, Saraswati Rane, Jitendra Abhisheki and Nachiketa Sharma.

Patiala Gharana: Founder:  Ustad Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad Ali Bakhsh Exponents:  Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Munawar Ali Khan, Raza Ali Khan,  Ajoy Chakraborty, Dilshad Khan, Khan, Parveen Sultana, Begum Akhtar, Naina Devi, Nirmala Devi and Lakshmi Shankar.

Qawwaal Bachche Gharana: Founder: Hazrat Amir Khusrau Exponents: Ghulam Ali (Pakistan)

Ramdasi Gharana: Founder: Baba Ramdas Bairagi Exponents: Baba Surdas; Pandit Narayan; J. Dhamodar; Pandit Sitaram; Ramesh Das; Bhai Gopal Singh, Baba Prabhu Das, Ustad Karim Baksh; Bhai Gurdit Singh;  Ustad Allam Ali Khan and Bhai Gopal Singh.

Rampur Gharana: It is the latest and last of the greatest gharanas of India. Founded by Bahadur Hussain and Amir Khan, it was characterised by some special charms in the use of alap, dhrupad, and dhamar and in instrumental music which were not found anywhere in India.

Rampur-Seheswan Gharana: Founder: Ustad Inayat Khan Exponents: Nisar Husain Khan, Ghulam Mustafa Khan, Rashid Khan, Sulochana Brihaspati, etc.

Rangeela Gharana: It was the new colour given to the Agra Gharana by Ustad Faiyyaz Khan.

Unclassified: Exponents: Kumar Gandharva, Girija Devi, Siddeshwari Devi and Tarapada Chakraborty.

The other Gharanas of Hindustani music include:  q       Seni Gharana of Dhrupad and Rabab: This was formed by three great brothers, Jaffar Khan, Payar Khan and Basat Khan of Lucknow and Benaras.  q          Seni Veenkaras: This was formed by Nirmal Sha of Lucknow.  q       Kawal Gharana: This was formed by Bade Mohammed Khan Kawal, of Lucknow and Gwalior.        q       Betia Gharana of Dhrupad: This was  formed by the disciples of Haidar Khan  Seni of Lucknow, who were the kathakiyas of Benaras, as well as Muslim Ustads of Kalpi.  q       Bishnupur Gharana of Dhrupad: This was formed by Bahadur Khan Seni, through his disciple Ramshankar Bhattacherjee.  q       Tilmandi Gharana of Punjabi Dhrupad singers.  q       Lahore Gharana by Punjabi kheyalias, who were disciples of Shah-Sadarang.  q       Dagar Gharana: Bairam Khan, a great scholar and Dhrupad singer, who was a descendant of a priestly line of Mathura, founded this gharana.

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