significance of a move

[pluthra]

ok so that move, where u touch the stage, then u touch each ear (every1 kno wat i'm talkin bout-if not go look at VCU or shan-e)...its usually at a beginning of a jhummar segment

does that have any significance behind it? It seems like it would, and if its to give respect to the stage, why is it done at the beginning of a jhummar segment always?

 

[mafzal]

She is referring to the steps on first verse of "Jatt di zindagi" done by VCU. That's just one example that pops into my head

It's at 3:37 in here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JeCyou6X14w

 

[ban3rg]

and here at 2:05..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu7vE87zpZk

 

[Basim]

Good question Parul!! I always wondered this too. If anyone has insight on this, please explain.

 

[Dholaholic]

i believe it signifies innosence

 

[Opinder]

its called "Matha Tek" and its done out of respect to the dance and good wishes

 

[Tuckerrrr]

I learned it as "tharti di izzat," giving respect to the ground you will be dancing on. The reason we touch our ears (according to my limited knowledge) is to symbolize a respectful request to hear the beat of the Dhol properly.

 

[pluthra]

but then why is it at the beginning of a jhummar segment? If it's significant shouldn't you give respect before the music starts, and then dance-that would just be way more rational, but then again we're not always going to do thing as intended. But why before the jhummar segment?

 

[Meistro]

also if you've read the history of jhummar, the dance was performed in religious ceremonies to honour shaheeds, sufis, etc. Maybe it is done in the beginning of jhummar because they did this action to show respect to the deceased? Just using my logic. I could be totally off.

 

[Jabar Jung]

You always touch the ground out of respect whether it's bhangra, soccer, or anything at least i do. Or any instrument you touch it to give respect. You touch your ears because you are saying sorry in advance if you disrespect the dharti in anyway in the future and also saying that you do not have as much knowledge. As meistro said about doing it before the jhoomer segment, it might be because it was done to pay respect to sufis, shaheeds etc. If you watch any indian classical singing show not the bs they do now..people always said their gurus name and touched their ear or placed their hands on their hearts to show respect and show they do not know more than their gurus, thats why they are their gurus. Basically to give them a higher status than you.

 

[COMTONDAJATT]

also if you've read the history of jhummar, the dance was performed in religious ceremonies to honour shaheeds, sufis, etc. Maybe it is done in the beginning of jhummar because they did this action to show respect to the deceased? Just using my logic. I could be totally off.

You hit it on the head I think. Jhummar was done at shrines and fairs along the Ravi. I think they did it at Bahishti da Mela which is in tribute to Baba Bhooman Shah. Showing respect to pirs and gurus is something intrinsic in Punjabi culture so the practice probably came from then.

 

[NSC]

I lowe you Comptondajatt! On the real though, I have also heard this referred to as "matha tek"...paying respects to the stage, dhol etc.

 

[sorethighs]

A lot of dancers do it when they first come on stage, as well, before the routine actually starts

 

[pluthra]

sweet always exciting to learn the jist behind the move......so any other moves got anything specific tied to them (not dance segments-specifically moves)

 

[AmitB]

nice to know...i was way off on what i thought it meant

 

[sprite]

dharti di izzat??? wtf?

it means, "to forgive the dancers for their mistakes" not dharti di izzat, or other random stuff people are saying....if you dont know, then dont say it just to act like you know.

theres no real intention to do it before or after jhummar....in india, it was just coincidentally done before the jhummar, and when teams start "copying" they unfortunately copy too much, and it ends up being the same in every routine.

it can be done at anytime, that doesnt matter. theres no significance to jhummar...

it simply gestures "asking for forgiveness if a mistake has been made" anything other than that is utter bullshat

 

[Kanvar]

nice to know the meaning.. but i mean it makes sense why teams do it before jhummer rather than say dhamaal. the gesture can be made very graceful and jhummer is for the most part supposed to be graceful. i personally think it would seem out of place if a team did this right before say dhamaal or somehow sialkoti. maybe team's are copying each other, but then who's to say its not something that should just be done. no one really thinks teams are copying other teams for putting in dhamaal, sialkoti, jhummer, and sammi.

 

[pluthra]

dharti di izzat??? wtf?

it means, "to forgive the dancers for their mistakes" not dharti di izzat, or other random stuff people are saying....if you dont know, then dont say it just to act like you know.

theres no real intention to do it before or after jhummar....in india, it was just coincidentally done before the jhummar, and when teams start "copying" they unfortunately copy too much, and it ends up being the same in every routine.

it can be done at anytime, that doesnt matter. theres no significance to jhummar...

it simply gestures "asking for forgiveness if a mistake has been made" anything other than that is utter bullshat

why in the world would it mean "asking for forgiveness if a mistake has been made?" that makes no sense at all to me.....like i understand the whole respect thing, but asking for forgiveness----thats just lameeee. Like, the way its worded just sounds lame. WHy would you ask for forgiveness during a performance. First, if your going to perform you better not be doing anything that makes you have to ask for forgiveness or you better just walk yourself off the stage and never appear in front of any1s faces again. And then, if you are really asking for forgiveness when a mistake is made why in the world would you have a stupid cheesy smile and your mind focused on bhangra.....I doubt even Indian teams are thinking, ok here's my time to do this move I'm sorry if I did anything wrong or am going to so let me ask for forgiveness at a set time, when I am really just thinking about bhangra. This statement makes no sense at all.

 

[mafzal]

nice to know the meaning.. but i mean it makes sense why teams do it before jhummer rather than say dhamaal. the gesture can be made very graceful and jhummer is for the most part supposed to be graceful.

Yeah makes sense choreography-wise. I was thinking same. 'Cuz the move fits nicely in a jhummar segment.

 

[Jabar Jung]

dharti di izzat??? wtf?

it means, "to forgive the dancers for their mistakes" not dharti di izzat, or other random stuff people are saying....if you dont know, then dont say it just to act like you know.

theres no real intention to do it before or after jhummar....in india, it was just coincidentally done before the jhummar, and when teams start "copying" they unfortunately copy too much, and it ends up being the same in every routine.

it can be done at anytime, that doesnt matter. theres no significance to jhummar...

it simply gestures "asking for forgiveness if a mistake has been made" anything other than that is utter bullshat

Relax there buddy, Cite your shit and then be so confident and "act like you know" the answer. Moo cho kadd lai pehlan saaliya.

Everybody has their own prespective of what they do.