Bhangra Times Three

Video Find of the Day

Bhangra is a form of dance that began with celebrations of the Vaisaki or Baisakhi, a Punjabi Spring festival held in April. It is not only an old harvest festival, but a 1699 celebration of Baisakhi was the occasion of a major founding event of Sikhism. That explains the archaic costumes that are often worn. They are in imitation of the latest fashions at the end of the 17th century, in the Punjab.

But mainly, we're talking dance. And song. There's songs, too. Here's some without the costumes and with.

Babe Bhangra Pounde Ne - Gurdas Maan



Captain Bhangra Da



Bhangra Party Hindi, Punjabi - Bhangra competitions 2006

Tumbi, Tumbi and Dholki

Video Find of the Day

Another piece of the Bhangra experience is this one-stringed instrument, the tumbi. Here's a demonstration to "urban" music, which I hear is catching on with the kids.
Ha, just kidding. I like it too.

Tumbi - Tumbiwalla does urban music again!



Here's a single tumbi played with dholki, a smaller cousin of the dhol. The picture is grainy but the sound is pretty decent, as these things go.

Dil Singh N Suraj Singh - Dholki N Tumbi Freestyle