Ghat Bhav

Ghat bhav [pronounced guhht bow] is a style of Kathak dance, but not a toda, poem, or thumri. Ghat is mostly found in Jaipur gharana and not in Lucknow gharana.

Ghat means condition or state. Ghati means speed. A walk in the dance is called ghati. It is always performed in drut lay and there is no taal. Ghats are accompanied by the tabla and harmonium, but no vocals.

Ghats are all small, but long, stories. Expressions and hand movements are important because they convey what is happening in the story. Some kinds of ghats are:

• nikas ghat: the simplest of of all ghats - just the walk itself
• murali ghat
• ghunghat: Radha pulling her sari over her face to show modesty
• paniharighat: girl going to get water (pani means water)
• Holighat
• makanjurighat: Krishna stealing butter
• matkifodghat: breaking the girl's water pot