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Boliyan or bolis are couplets that are sung in Punjab.[1] Boliyan are often sung in accompaniment of bhangra dances.[2]
A boli expresses typical situations and their emotions. Usually a boli is sung and introduced by one woman, and then other girls form a chorus. These boliyan are usually passed down generation by generation orally. This forms a continuous and successive chain, each generation being taught by its predecessor. It is through this process that boliyan have been refined and passed on from long ago.
Although commonly women do giddha and sing boliyan, in the Malwa region, in lower Punjab, men sing the boliyan. They also do Bhangra dances to accompany the Boliyan (see Malwai Giddha).[1]
Boliyan are traditional, but time has made changes in them too. They are not only composed by professionals, but even farmers contribute to them. They have a uniform rhythm, and often their appeal is enhanced by a meaningless rhyme being added to them. Almost all folk dances are performed in circles. Whilst dancing the giddha, the women sing in sonorous voices, to the accompaniment of the dholak (drum), ghadda (pots) or to the beat of clapping. The leader (woman) of the chorus sings the boli, which the chorus repeats. The ghadda is played by gently striking a ring or a small stone on it in keeping with the rhythm. It helps to build an atmosphere of gaiety.[1]
- ^ a b c Walia, Aarohi (2008). Folk Dances of Punjab. Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India: Unistar Books. p. 86. ISBN 9788171426027.
- ^ Gorlinski, Virginia (2010-03-03). "Bhangra". Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica, inc. Retrieved 2020-04-18.