{{Short description|Folk dance in the Indian state of Rajasthan}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}} {{Infobox dance | title = Chari Dance | image = Udaipur, Dharohar (6269624763).jpg | caption = Chari dance costume | genre = Folk dance | instruments = {{Flatlist| * Dholak * Nagada * Harmonium * Bankia * Thali }} | origin = Rajasthan, India }} {{Culture of India}}
'''Chari dance''' is a folk dance in the Indian state of Rajasthan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Art and culture of Rajasthan|url=http://rajasthan.gov.in/StateProfile/ArtandCulture/Pages/FolkDanceMusic.aspx|accessdate=14 April 2015|work=Rajasthan.gov.in|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430060526/http://rajasthan.gov.in/StateProfile/ArtandCulture/Pages/FolkDanceMusic.aspx|archivedate=30 April 2015}}</ref> Chari dance is a female group dance. It is related to Ajmer and Kishangarh.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance Forms of Rajasthan|url=http://www.pinkcity.com/citizenblogger/dance-forms-of-rajasthan/|accessdate=14 April 2015| work=Pinkcity.com|date=5 December 2012 }}</ref> Chari dance is prominent in Gurjar community of Kishangarh and Ajmer and known all over Rajasthan. The Chari dance is performed at marriage celebrations, on the birth of a male child and at celebrations and festivals of goodness.
==Performance ==
During the Chari dance, colorfully dressed, bejeweled women hold earthenware or brass Chari pots on their heads. Often, the Chari are set on lit Diya (oil lamp) or fire with cotton seeds immersed in oil. Dancers carry a flaming pot on their head without touching it, while performing graceful movements of limbs and deep swirls of knees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dance festivals in Udaipur|url=http://www.hotelsatudaipur.com/dance-festivals-in-udaipur.html|accessdate=14 April 2015|work=Hotelsatudaipur|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917172232/http://www.hotelsatudaipur.com/dance-festivals-in-udaipur.html|archive-date=17 September 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> To make the dance look more attractive lines of lighted patterns are created as the dancers move quietly around the floor.
thumb|Chari_dance_in_bagore_ki_haveli
== Origin == Rajasthan is a desert where women walk for many miles to collect water for their families. They collect their daily water in Chari. The dance celebrates this lifelong ritual of collecting water.
thumb|Chari_Dance
==Dress and ornaments==
Dancers wear Rajasthani golden ornaments named Hansli, Hansli, Timniya, Mogri, Punchi, Bangdi, Gajra, Armlets, Karli, Kanka and Navr.<ref name=doi>{{cite web|title=Dances of India|url=http://www.dancesofindia.co.in/folk-dances-india/rajasthan/chari.html|accessdate=14 April 2015|work=Dancesofindia.co.in|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150411213140/http://www.dancesofindia.co.in/folk-dances-india/rajasthan/chari.html|archivedate=11 April 2015}}</ref>
==Instruments==
Chari dance is played with Nagada, Dholak, Dhol Harmonium, Thali (an autophonic instrument) and Bankia. Bankia is the most common. It produces a powerful, eerie sound in dexterous hands.<ref name=doi/> thumb|It is famous Gujar women of rajasthan.In this dance, cotton seed, are burnt inside the pot and the dance is performed.
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Folk dances of Rajasthan