Jaipur: Sparks rose into the night sky at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Saturday as the Jasnathi fire dance of Katariyasar, Bikaner, was presented at Lokrang for the first time. Dancers crossed a bed of blazing embers to cries of "Fateh-Fateh", closing an evening that had already brought folk forms from eight states to the stage.
The 29th Lokrang, JKK's National Folk Dance Festival and National Handicrafts Fair, opened on 27 October and runs until 6 November 2026. "पधारो म्हारे देश!" (welcome to my land) is how JKK invites visitors to its celebration of folk art, folk dance and handicrafts.
Fire on the sand
The fire dance was held in the open, on a sand ground laid with burning embers. Behind it stood JKK's backdrop, with a portrait of Shri Dev Jasnathji Maharaj, founder of the Jasnathi sect, and the words "अग्नि नृत्य" (fire dance) and "विश्व प्रसिद्ध नृत्य" (a world-famous dance).
The Siddhs of the Jasnathi sect from Katariyasar village in Bikaner district perform this traditional dance on blazing embers, calling out "Fateh-Fateh" as they go. At JKK, dancers in white and in red, all in saffron turbans, took turns to cross the fire, some with their arms raised, while musicians in saffron played from the side. The tradition is a symbol of Rajasthan's rich cultural heritage.
Folk dances from eight states
Earlier, from 7 pm to 9:30 pm, the Madhyavarti (Rangayan) courtyard hosted the night's folk dance programme: twelve performances from eight states, as listed by JKK.
| # | Performance | State |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | लंगा गायन · Langa singing | Rajasthan |
| 2 | लुड्डी नृत्य · Luddi | Punjab |
| 3 | लाई हरौबा · Lai Haraoba | Manipur |
| 4 | करईकल कावड़ी अट्टम | Tamil Nadu |
| 5 | पुरूलिया छऊ · Purulia Chhau | Jharkhand |
| 6 | पाई डंडा · Pai Danda | Uttar Pradesh |
| 7 | चंग नृत्य · Chang dance | Rajasthan |
| 8 | लावणी · Lavani | Maharashtra |
| 9 | थपट्टम · Thappattam | Tamil Nadu |
| 10 | थांगता · Thang-Ta | Manipur |
| 11 | तलवार रास · Talwar Raas | Gujarat |
| 12 | झिकाट्टम | Tamil Nadu |
Purulia Chhau, presented by a troupe from Jharkhand, filled the stage with its towering masks, among them a many-armed Durga.
Rajasthan's Chang dancers followed, the women's ghaghras swirling as the men played the chang, a large frame drum, and the flute.
Lavani from Maharashtra brought dancers in nine-yard saris, and Thappattam from Tamil Nadu set the pace with its frame drums.
The night's martial forms came from Manipur and Gujarat: Thang-Ta, Manipur's tradition of sword and spear, staged as swordplay in black, and Talwar Raas, danced by men in white with swords and shields.
Plan your visit
Lokrang continues every day until 6 November at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg:
- Folk dance programme: 7 pm to 9:30 pm in the Madhyavarti (central) courtyard
- Stage performances: 4 pm to 6:30 pm at Shilpgram
- National Handicrafts Fair: 11 am to 10 pm at Shilpgram
Each evening has a different line-up. JKK posts the day's programme on its Instagram page. See our Lokrang 2026 event listing and more events in Jaipur.
Photos: I Love Jaipur City.
