Art and Craft of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh isn't just a land of monuments and rivers — it's one of India's most influential cradles of classical music and dance. From royal courts to temple courtyards, the state has shaped entire schools of performing arts that continue to be studied and celebrated across the world. For any traveller with an interest in India's cultural depth, Uttar Pradesh offers a rare chance to witness living traditions that stretch back centuries.
Classical Music: The Gharana Legacy
Uttar Pradesh holds a special place in Hindustani classical music through its gharana system — schools of musical thought passed down from teacher to student over generations. The Gwalior, Banaras, and Lucknow gharanas in particular have shaped the direction of vocal and instrumental music in India.
Forms like Dhrupad, Khayal, Thumri, Dadra, and Tappa all flourished here, each with its own emotional texture and technical style. The Banaras gharana stands out for its expressive, deeply devotional approach to music, often drawing on themes of spirituality and longing. Travellers visiting Varanasi can still find live performances and training centres where these traditions are practiced and passed on today.
Folk and Devotional Music
Away from the royal courts, Uttar Pradesh's villages and towns have nurtured their own rich folk music traditions, shaped by everyday life, changing seasons, and shared emotion. Forms like Birha, Kajri, Chaiti, Alha, Sohar, and Nirgun bhajans capture everything from the pain of separation to the joy of childbirth and the arrival of the monsoon.
In more urban centres like Lucknow and Allahabad, the influence of Sufi culture runs deep, giving rise to soulful qawwalis and ghazals that remain popular at shrines and cultural gatherings even today.
Kathak: A Dance Born in Uttar Pradesh
If there's one art form most closely tied to Uttar Pradesh's identity, it's Kathak — one of India's eight classical dance forms, and one that originated right here. The name itself comes from Katha, meaning story, as the dance began with wandering storytellers known as Kathaks who used movement and expression to narrate tales from mythology.
Over time, Kathak evolved dramatically under Mughal and Awadhi patronage, particularly in Lucknow, where it took on a more refined, courtly elegance. The dance is instantly recognisable through its intricate footwork (tatkar), rapid spins (chakkars), and highly expressive gestures (abhinaya), often used to depict stories from epics, Puranas, and devotional poetry. Today, both the Lucknow and Banaras Kathak gharanas remain influential, each with subtle differences in style and presentation, and travellers can catch performances or workshops in both cities.
Folk Dance Traditions Across the State
Beyond Kathak, Uttar Pradesh's folk dance traditions are just as vibrant and regionally distinct:
- Raslila (Braj region) — a devotional dance-drama recreating the life and love of Lord Krishna, performed widely in Mathura and Vrindavan.
- Charkula (Braj region) — a striking dance where women balance multi-tiered oil lamps on their heads, often performed during festivals.
- Nautanki (Kanpur, Lucknow) — a folk theatre tradition blending music, dance, drama, and sharp social satire.
- Ramlila (across the state) — a dramatic enactment of the Ramayana, staged with particular grandeur during Dussehra.
- Kajri Dance (eastern Uttar Pradesh) — an expressive dance tied to the arrival of the monsoon.
- Dhobiya (eastern Uttar Pradesh) — a lively, energetic dance traditionally performed by the washerman community.
- Rai (Bundelkhand) — a spirited dance form associated with the Bedia community.
These folk dances do far more than entertain — they reflect religious devotion, particularly within Vaishnav traditions, act as a form of community bonding, and serve as an oral record of local history and social commentary passed down through generations.
Folk and Semi-Classical Music Forms
Much like its dance traditions, Uttar Pradesh's music is closely tied to season and sentiment. Kajri songs speak of monsoon longing, Rasiya celebrates Radha-Krishna devotion in the Braj region, and Sohar songs mark the joy of childbirth. Hori and Phag songs come alive during Holi, while Birha, rooted in the Purvanchal region, channels themes of separation and deep emotion. Chaiti, tied to the arrival of spring, adds yet another seasonal layer to this musical calendar.
Alongside these folk forms, Nautanki continues to thrive as a form of musical theatre, while qawwalis remain central to devotional gatherings at Sufi shrines, and bhajans continue to be sung in temples and religious congregations across the state.
Preserving a Living Heritage
Like many traditional art forms, Uttar Pradesh's music and dance heritage faces real challenges — declining traditional patronage, growing commercialisation, reduced interest among younger generations, and limited platforms for rural performers, among others. Documentation and digital archiving remain limited too, putting many folk traditions at risk of fading over time.
That said, institutional support continues to play an important role in keeping these traditions alive. The Bhatkhande Music Institute in Lucknow remains a leading centre for classical music and dance training, while Banaras Hindu University offers dedicated programmes in performing arts. The Sangeet Natak Akademi also contributes through fellowships, awards, and documentation efforts.
On the government side, initiatives include state-sponsored cultural festivals, pension schemes and scholarships for artists, promotion of cultural tourism circuits across Braj, Ayodhya, and Varanasi, and youth training programmes aimed at reviving interest among the next generation of performers.
A Cultural Identity Worth Experiencing
From the courtly elegance of Kathak to the raw emotional depth of Birha and the festive energy of Nautanki, Uttar Pradesh's music and dance traditions form a living, breathing part of its cultural identity. For travellers, witnessing even a small part of this heritage — a Kathak performance in Lucknow, a Raslila in Vrindavan, or a qawwali evening in Varanasi — offers a deeper, more intimate understanding of the state than any monument alone could provide.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Where did Kathak originate?
Kathak originated in Uttar Pradesh, evolving from temple storytelling traditions into a refined classical dance form under royal patronage in Lucknow.
2. What are the major gharanas of classical music in Uttar Pradesh?
The Gwalior, Banaras, and Lucknow gharanas are the most prominent, each known for a distinct vocal and instrumental style.
3. What is Nautanki?
Nautanki is a traditional folk theatre form from Kanpur and Lucknow that combines music, dance, drama, and social satire.
4. Which dance is associated with Lord Krishna in Uttar Pradesh?
Raslila, performed widely in the Braj region of Mathura and Vrindavan, depicts the divine life of Lord Krishna through dance and drama.
5. What is Kajri?
Kajri is a folk music and dance form from eastern Uttar Pradesh associated with the monsoon season and themes of longing.
6. Where can I learn or watch classical music and dance in Uttar Pradesh?
Lucknow's Bhatkhande Music Institute and Varanasi's classical music circles are among the best places to experience live performances and training.
7. Is qawwali part of Uttar Pradesh's musical heritage?
Yes, qawwali holds an important place in the state's culture, especially in Lucknow and Allahabad, where it remains tied to Sufi devotional traditions.