Bhangra, also known as Bhungru, is a ritualistic dance that originally began in northern India, in the state of Punjab. A Bhangra is considered to be an important part of the dance during the season of performing agricultural activities. The term is derived from the Punjabi phrase “Bhangra ka man khana”, which means “I place the crop in the air”. The word “Bhangra” literally means “wind-swept dance”.
A Bhangra is a high energy, synthetic dance, characterized by a series of spins, jumps, twists and other dynamic movements. With Bhangra dancing, bringing in the bounty of nature is emphasized by means of non-directional rhythm, and the deal is believed to carry vital energy into the body. Dhol is believed to be the essential energy carrier to all living things on the material plane, and is therefore considered to be essential to life on our planet. With such high spiritual significance for the Punjab people, it is no wonder that Bhangra has been a popular spiritual practice among them since the time of their spiritual guru, Baba Krishna.
In the modern era, Bhangra has become a popular choice among individuals who have a love of dancing, and wish to channel their energy for personal growth and harmony. Since most traditional Indian forms of Bhangra are in the “body-moving” styles, the purpose of the modern bhangra is to exaggerate these aspects. Some of the most common bhangra dancing forms are the modern interpretations of the traditional footwork, such as “chore dance”. This particular dance form was originally developed as a means of recreation for rural people and has now evolved into its modern incarnation as an art form for urban dwellers