Lavani is a combination of song and dance that is most commonly associated with the state of Maharashtra as well as the surrounding areas in the Konkan or Coastal Region. The word ‘Lavani’ is derived from the word Lavanya, which means ‘beauty’. Lavani aims to take various aspects of social life such as politics, religion, romance, etc. and present them in an entertaining form.
The Lavani dance originated as a form of morale booster for warring troops during the 18th and the 19th century when the state of Maharashtra was embroiled in conflict and turmoil.
The dance form reached the peak of its popularity during the rule of the Peshawari Dynasty that was seated in Pune during which it was given support by the ruling elite.
The Lavani dance is generally performed by Dhangars or shepherds living in the Sholapur district of Maharashtra. They are inspired by nature and the dance form contains tales of the birth of Biruba, their deity.
The more commonly performed forms of the Lavani dance are concentrated in Maharashtra and are not restricted to the Dhangar community.
It is performed by women who dance to the beats of a Dholak, which is an Indian drum. It isn’t uncommon for the Dholak to be accompanied by other instruments like a cymbal called the Manjeera, a string instrument called a Tuntuni, a Daf which is quite similar to a tambourine but has a single leather surface, along with a harmonium.
The tempo of the music and the dance is quite fast and the music is supported by the performers themselves who wear ankle bells called the Ghungroo. The quick tempo helps pump up the dances as well as the crowd and a Lavani performance is generally quite vivacious and energetic.
A Lavani performance can be broadly categorized into two parts. The Nirguni Lavani, which deals with philosophy and Shringari Lavani which deals with sensuality.
Shrinagri Lavani is more popular than Nirguni Lavani and is performed in theaters as well as Bollywood movies. Shringari Lavani deals with a multitude of genres, with the love between a man and a woman being the most prominent.
Themes such as the sexual union between husband and wife, adultery, menstruation as well as childbirth are common themes that are enacted. Long performances of the Lavani depict various situations such as the separation of a husband and wife or the passionate endeavors of soldiers.