The Kacchhi Ghodi (or the Kacchhi Gori or Kacchhi Dori dance) is a unique folk dance from the state of Rajasthan in India. The name ‘Kacchhi Ghodi’ translates to ‘fake horse’ meaning the fake horse dance. It is particularly popular among the tourists that visit Rajasthan.

The state of Rajasthan is famous for its royal heritage and horses and equine property have always been the symbols of royalty and heroism. The Kacchhi Ghodi dance oddly has its origins in the notoriety of the bandits of the Bavaria tribe that raided the travelling traders and wayfarers in the Shekhawati region of Rajasthan. This dance is always performed during a wedding, especially during a Hindu kshatriya (warrior class) wedding. The dancers actually wear a fake horse idol over their torso that gives an illusion that they are actually riding the horse. The dance mandatorily involves unsheathed swords. The dancers usually represent the Bavaria bandits and the travelers, describing the bandits’ heroic exploits. In weddings the dances are often employed for the entertainment of the guests from the Groom’s side as traditionally in Hindu families and in Indian society in general, the groom’s side is the most respected guests at a wedding.

Dance Form

The Kacchhi Ghodi dacne involves two or three men wearing fake horses and carrying swords to enact the scenes from the Shekhawati folk songs. The attire of the rider and that of the horse is very rich with intricate and exquisite handiworks designed on the clothes, like embroidery, mirrors, and so on. The dance starts from the right side of the arena, surrounding which the audience is standing. The dance involves mock fights with agile attacks and last minute parries. The singers narrate the story through folk songs.

Musical Instruments

The musical instruments that typically accompany the Kacchhi Ghodi dances are:

Dhol: The common North Indian drum that produces a range of bass sounds.

Fife: It is similar to a regular Bansuri (common North Indian flute) apart from that its mechanics and tone are inverted and also that a very high pitch can be obtained from it.

Significance

The Kacchhi Ghodi dance has great significance in the culture of Rajasthan. First of all it is a part of the unique cultural identity of the people of Rajasthan and the collective Indian cultural heritage. Secondly it is a form of social memory, as a means of education for the youth about the historic legacy and traditions of their people.

Variations

The Kacchhi Ghodi dances has no known variations.