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raas
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raas leela
The songs and tunes played when dancing Raas have different connotations and meanings and many of them refer to the escapades of Lord Krsna in his youth. The dance took its most popular form during the Raas Leela dance which took place between Krsna and the Gopis in the forests of Vrandavan by the banks of the Yamuna river.
the sticks
Dandiyas refer in the plural to the two sticks with which the Raas dance is performed. It can also be performed with one stick if the other is lost or broken or just for greater freedom of movement.
The simplest dandiyas are two wooden sticks around 40 cm long and with a radius of around 8 cm, though these sizes will vary. The dandiyas should be easy to grasp and be long enough to reach out to click with the dandiya of the facing dancer.
Very often the dandiyas are embellished with decorations or are wrapped in cloth of colourful patterns and designs. They will also have small bells attached with give off a tinkling sound when clicked.
dandiyas
Care has to be taken when playing and clicking the sticks and it is not unknown for injuries to be caused. When they are held in the hand they evoke the holding of small swords, appropriately given that they can be used to clash and whip, hit and strike, albeit in a playful manner.
Dandiyas also have a martial element to them and some of the Rajput dandiya dances are played using longer sticks and the form and the movement is that of warriors battling each other.
The Raas is a dance played with two sticks. The sticks are known as Dandiya. Raas is also known as Dandiya Raas or sometimes as just Dandiya.
The players face each other in a large concentric circle or at times form smaller groups. The players facing each other, click their sticks with the other , in defined movements and then move on to the next facing player. The dancers may twist, turn and sway, and even change places, depending on their ability, enthusiasm and inclination. The Raas dance is performed and played by men and women together.
raas
thrilling , twirls and
spinning swirls
enchanting
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