“It’s Our Culture”: Dynamics of the Revival and Reemergence of Punjabi Jhummar

In the Indian state of Punjab there has been a revival of a centuries-old dance called “jhummar.” The intensely energetic, new folkloric dance dubbed “bhangra” initially marginalized the historically more popular jhummar during an era of modern state-building efforts. Jhummar was nonetheless able to reemerge in the Punjabi cultural consciousness through the cumulative interaction between vernacular performers retaining identification with the dance and institutions looking for alternatives to the oversaturated bhangra. This article details the development of modern jhummar, arguing that the millennial ethos of Punjab, with its renewed emphasis on traditionality and regional culture, engendered the revival of jhummar.