Boliyan te Giddha: Bari Barsi Khatan Geya si

A delightful fusion of music and dance, Giddha-Boliyan is inseparable from Punjab's cultural heritage. This captivating dance, performed by women, involves a clever play of words and vibrant clapping, making it an integral part of Punjabi celebrations.

Women performing Giddha I Source: The Rising Punjab

Boliyan are impromptu couplets sung during gatherings. The dance that accompanies Boliyan is called Giddha, performed predominantly by women, and the two go hand in hand. This fusion of dance and music exudes a sense of celebration, and joyous occasions like weddings and Lohri are incomplete without these performances. Renowned names like Lehmber Hussainpuri and Surjit Bindarkhia in popular culture have infused their music with Boliyan, making it more widely recognised.

Giddha involves rapid clapping and quick foot movements, traditionally performed by women wearing Dupattas, utilising their scarves as they sing Boliyan. Sometimes, the ghada or pot is used as a drum in Boliyan and others dance to its rhythm.

Typically performed in a group, women sit or stand together in a circle or semicircle. One woman introduces a boli, and the rest join in on the chorus, clapping in sync.

The Boliyan in Giddha encompass a range, from the Nikian Boliyan (short couplets) to Lambiyan Boliyan (long couplets). The Niki Boli consists of two sentences, delivering a quick and clever remark. The Lambi Boli, on the other hand, is longer, providing a brief but impactful message. An example of a Boli from the Bollywood movie Jab We Met can be recalled, sung during Geet’s (the main lead) betrothal ceremony.

“Meri bhari jawani ve ranjhana jo ganne di pori, naina nu samjha le ae karde roop mere di chori/ I’m full of youth oh Ranjhana like sugarcane, your gaze robs my youthful appearance, keep it in control.”

The singer skillfully uses rhymes to weave witty satire or remarks in the Boli, making it even more entertaining. Boliyan depict popular cultural trends and represents Punjab's cultural heritage. Crafting Boliyan requires knowledge not only of rhyming words but also the art of weaving them into meaningful couplets. Singers may create Bolis spontaneously during duels or repeat traditional ones. Sometimes, women challenge each other, flaunting their beauty in the Boli and using gestures to provoke one another.

Giddha falls under the category of folk dance, and the excitement of the dancers is evident through Tali or clapping and Boliyan or couplets. Boliyan are not limited to women as men also use them for Bhangra. The dance can also become a platform for women to mimic or act like men, women cross-dressing to tease the bridegroom and enacting playful relationships. Themes of work, marriage, emotion, and love are prevalent in Boliyan, making it a representation of traditional dances in Punjab. The lively environment created by women in social gatherings, dancing to the beats of Boliyan, is truly a sight to behold.

"While this folk art has survived in villages, it is losing its sheen with the urban youth, which has grown up on a diet of pop music. So, when a popular Punjabi television channel recently started a show to hunt a promising young 'boli' singer, people took notice."

Big Boli Star, a tv show introduced on the channel Big CBS Spark Punjabi made an attempt in 2012 to revive the traditional art of Boli. Reintroducing the culture to the youth, the show had initially led to a debate on losing the essence and meaning behind the practice of singing Boliyan. However, this attempt did lead to college festivals hosting competitions in the urban areas of Punjab pulling the youth back to its Punjabi roots.