Lezim Dance

Lezim Dance Latest news

Recently, a scene of Lezim dancing in the upcoming Bollywood film Chhava, based on the life of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, has led to controversy in Maharashtra.

About Lezim Dance

• It is a folk dance from the state of Maharashtra.
• It gets its name after a musical instrument- a unique wooden stick, with jingling cymbals attached to it that the dancers carry while performing the dance.
• Lezim is as much a rigorous physical exercise, a drill, as a dance: the formations are in twos and fours and sometimes even a circle.
• The dance is accompanied by a dhol or dhalgi (small dhol).
• There are no winds or string instruments accompanying it, often there is no song accompaniment either, but of late, sometimes, a song is sung.”
• Musical Instruments:
  • Lizem is a kind of musical instrument which was earlier traditionally used as an instrument in all folk dances but today it is primarily used in Ganesha procession.
  • The dancers carry a wooden stick fixed with jingling cymbals. These jingling cymbals are called Lezim. Dholki, a drum instrument, is used as the main percussion music in the performance.

Who was Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj?

• He was the eldest son of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
• He came to power following a bloody succession battle with his half-brother Rajaram in 1681.
• The Mughal emperor Aurangzeb (1618-1707) was a contemporary and his plan to extend his empire towards the Deccan often resulted in clashes with the Marathas.

Lezim Dance FAQs

Q1: Which state dance is Lezim?

Ans: Maharashtra

Q2: What are the benefits of the Lezim exercise?

Ans: The health benefits of Lezim folk dance are numerous and include Improved cardiovascular health:

Q3: How many types of Lezim are there?

Ans: There are three main types of Lezim - military lezim (popular in Baroda and mostly used as a martial art for defense), talathekya and samanyajananna

Q4:What is Lezim in sports?

Ans: Lezim is much a dynamic physical exercise and drill as a sports dance

Source: IE