Lavani folk art form

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What is the Lavani folk art form?

• The word Lavani comes from ‘lavanya’ or beauty. 
• Lavani is a traditional folk art form in which women dancers wearing nine-yard-long sarees(a nauvari saree) in bright colours, make-up, and ghunghroos perform on dholak beats on a stage before a live audience.
• As an indigenous art form, Lavani has a history going back several centuries, and it attained particular popularity in the Peshwa era in the 18th century. 
• Traditionally, performances were held in front of kings or lords, and for the entertainment of tired soldiers resting during breaks in fighting.
• Lavani dance was generally performed by Dhangars or Shepherd living in Solapur, Maharashtra.
• Lavani developed in two distinct performances, namely Phadachi Lavani and Baithakichi Lavani. 
• The Phadachi Lavani is performed publically in front of a large audience while Baithakichi Lavani is performed in private in an enclosed chamber performed for a selective audience.
• Essentially, themes of Lavani are divided into two- The Nirguni Lavani (philosophical) and the Shringari Lavani (sensual).

• It is traditionally performed in different social settings: Dholki-phad Tamasha and Sangeet Bari. 

• The Dholki-phad Tamasha is performed as a heterogeneous act that goes on for about four to eight hours. 
• Tamashas are performed by travelling groups in jatras (village fair), weekly markets, etc. in front of large audiences.
• The Sangeet Bari on the other hand, is stationary. It comes under the Baithakichi Lavani type. Sangeet Baris traditionally feature only female artists.  
• Over the years, Lavani has gained more acceptability among the people, even though certain taboos around it continue. 
• The audience has historically been all-male, but in recent years, some women too have begun to attend performances.
• Lavani became well known outside Maharashtra, throughout India and even outside the country, following its use in popular media such as cinema.  

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