Experience the Joy and Energy of Bhangra!

WHAT IS BHANGRA?

I went to my first Bhangra event a year ago at Robson Square. It was part of the yearly competition put on by the Vancouver international Bhangra Celebration Society. I have never enjoyed myself so much! Such a lot of joy and energy.

What is Bhangra? Bhangra is a form of music and dance that originated in the Punjab area of India. It’s most commonly associated with the Sikhs and began as a folk dance conducted by farmers to celebrate the coming of Spring or Vaisakhi. Today it survives in different forms and styles including pop music, film soundtracks and even in competitions.

You can see and participate in Bhangra this week at the City of Bhangra Festival, a nine days spectacular that runs through to Feb 21. This is the fifth year for the festival which showcases events that bring Bhangra to a new level making it accessible to people of all cultures.

Bhangra is a fusion of music, singing and the beat of the dhol drum, a single string instrument called the iktar (ektara), the lumbi and the chimta. The accompanying songs are couplets written in the Punjabi language called bolis. The drum patterns of Bhangra music are similar to the rhythms in Reggae.

This year’s Bhangra festival is included in the Cultural Olympiad events Transfusion, a blend of contemporary and traditional folk dance and rePercussion, an exploration of percussion and folk drumming led by Sal Ferreras as well as the Coast Capital Bhangra Competition with UK acts included. To Feb. 21. www.vibc.org for venues.