From Buried Alive to Padma Shri: The Extraordinary Journey of Kalbelia Icon Gulabo Sapera
From Buried Alive to Padma Shri: The Extraordinary Journey of Kalbelia Icon Gulabo Sapera
Born into rejection, she rose to global acclaim, Gulabo Sapera’s story is one of unmatched resilience, art, and empowerment
Born as Dhanvantari on the auspicious day of Dhanteras in 1973 in Rajasthan’s Kalbeliya community, Gulabo Sapera’s life began under tragic circumstances, she was buried alive just hours after birth for being the fourth daughter in a conservative family. It was her mother who, learning of the horrific act hours later, rushed to the burial site, dug her daughter out, and saved her life. That moment, driven by a mother’s belief and love, changed the course of Indian folk dance history forever.
Buried alive…before she even took her first breath. Just because she was a girl. But fate wasn’t ready to give up on Gulabo. Rescued. Raised in mud huts. She turned her pain into poetry through dance. From the deserts of Rajasthan to the global stage, she became India’s Queen… pic.twitter.com/5WTZIXTkua
— Md Shah Alam (@shah_eart) July 4, 2025
Recalling the incident, Gulabo once said, “As you know, I was buried alive by the women of my community as I was the fourth daughter born to my parents. My father was not around and even my mother did not know about it. When my mom came to know about it from my aunt, she went to the site where they had buried me. She had a firm belief that even after five to six hours of being buried, I would be alive.”
Raised by a father who was a snake charmer, Gulabo found early fascination in the hypnotic movements of snakes and the sound of the been. By the time she was a toddler, she had already begun mimicking their slithering grace, an instinct that would eventually evolve into the Kalbelia dance form as we know it today. However, community norms forbade girls from dancing, and when she turned six, the threat of expulsion forced her father to confine her indoors. The absence of dance made her ill, and during a visit to Ajmer Dargah in a bid to heal her, a rose petal landing on her chest seemingly revived her. From that day forward, she was renamed “Gulabo.”
Despite opposition, her mother began taking her to small events to perform and support the family. A pivotal moment came when Gulabo performed at the Pushkar Mela at the age of eight. Officials from Rajasthan Tourism spotted her talent and invited her to Jaipur, marking the beginning of her journey toward stardom.
By 13, she was performing internationally, beginning with a show in Washington, DC. Her artistry and story caught the attention of Maharani Gayatri Devi, who took Gulabo under her wing and encouraged her parents to see her not just as their daughter but as a daughter of Rajasthan. Gulabo began training girls in Kalbelia dance, transforming what was once a suppressed tradition into a celebrated art form recognized globally.
Gulabo didn’t just revive a dance style, she designed the signature Kalbelia costume herself, now an iconic part of the folk tradition. In 2010, UNESCO recognized Kalbelia as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, largely due to Gulabo’s efforts.
Her reach has extended far beyond India. She has performed in numerous international collaborations, appeared in Bollywood and Rajasthani films, and even had a street in France named after her. A school in Denmark is associated with her name, and back home, she has founded dance institutes in Jaipur and Pushkar, mentoring hundreds of young artists.
In 2016, Gulabo Sapera was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, for her remarkable contribution to folk dance. She remains an enduring symbol of resilience and womanhood.
Gulabo married fellow folk artist Shoan Nath at the age of 13. Together, they raised five children, two sons and three daughters instilling values of equality and independence in their home. Even when Shoan met with an accident, Gulabo supported the family while he helped manage the household. Today, their son leads a folk band, and their daughters pursue higher education.
From surviving a death sentence as a newborn to becoming a globally celebrated cultural icon, Gulabo Sapera’s life stands as a tribute to inner strength, artistry, and the power of belief.
