Mujra: The entertainment of the Royals.

Dance is a very revered form of expression in many communities. In southeast Asia alone there are over 15 classical dance types Bharatanatyam, from Tamil Nadu, Kathak, from Uttar Pradesh, Kathakali, from Kerala, Kuchipudi, from Andhra Pradesh, and Odissi, from Odisha to name a few. Natraj is worshipped as the lord of the dance. These dance forms like Ballet take a lifetime of practice to master.

If we take a look at history the Mughal's and Nizam's, they particularly enjoyed dance as a recreational activity. Mujra a form of entertainment came into being as a way of entertaining the rulers. It combines elements of the native classical Kathak dance with native music including thumris and ghazals. Mujra was traditionally performed at mehfils (A gathering). Mujra would consist of dance, singing, poetry and some liquor to complement the ambiance. During Mughal rule in the subcontinent, in places such as Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, the tradition of performing Mujra was a family art and often passed down from mother to daughter. These courtesans had some power and prestige due to their access to the elite class and some of them came to be known as authorities on culture. Some noble families would send their sons to them to learn etiquette (tehzeeb) and the art of conversation from them.

This dance form especially caught my attention because of its grace and sophistication of movement. Imagine if Rumi's poetry took the form of dancing and expressed itself.

I had a chance to see for myself a Mujra performance when my family was invited by the Prince of Udaipur, Mr. Lakshraj Singh of Mewad for lunch at their residence in Udaipur.

While I did expect to be flattered with delicacies and humbling service. The Mujra was a surprise and a very eloquent one. The performer moved oh so gracefully like water. It's a shame this dance form is socially not as acceptable as other. It is still today only followed by generational inheritance mostly. It is making its way into the commercial cinema but it fails to celebrate tastefully the real experience of it in a Mehfil.

This is the video link to the closest thing I could find to a Mehfil and Mujra: Ghar more pardesiya

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