Boliyan: The Unsung Women's Vocal Tradition That Shaped Punjabi Music

When people think of Punjabi music, they often think of male voices — the booming baritones of contemporary hip-hop and Bhangra. But the oldest continuous vocal tradition in Punjabi music is entirely female.

What Are Boliyan?

Boliyan (singular: boli) are short, witty couplets sung by women at weddings, festivals, and domestic gatherings. They're typically improvised or adapted from a vast oral repertoire, set to the rhythm of the dholki (a smaller version of the dhol). Boliyan cover everything — teasing the groom's family, celebrating the bride, commenting on relationships, and offering sharp social commentary.

A Living Oral Tradition

Folklorist Neha Singh Gour has documented how Boliyan function as a form of women's counter-discourse — a space where women can say things that would be taboo in everyday conversation. Through the socially sanctioned framework of song, women critique patriarchal norms, mock male behavior, and assert female agency.

Research on women's folk traditions by Gloria Goodwin Raheja at the University of Minnesota confirms that across South Asia, women's songs serve as "sites of resistance" — spaces where gender norms can be questioned and subverted under the protective cover of tradition.

The Call-and-Response DNA

The structure of Boliyan — a lead singer states a couplet, the group responds — is the original call-and-response format in Punjabi music. This pattern appears throughout modern Punjabi songs: the verse-chorus structure, the ad-libs, the group vocal hooks. The DNA of Boliyan is in every contemporary Punjabi track, whether the artist knows it or not.

Preserving What Matters

As weddings become more commercialized and DJ-driven, traditional Boliyan singing is at risk of being lost. But a new generation of scholars and musicians is working to document and preserve this tradition, recognizing it as the foundation of Punjabi musical culture.

Explore the full depth of Punjabi musical traditions on ApnaMusic.