A fraction of the Jogi Nâth, belonged to the Nâth sect, back to the 8th century, whose first member was Guru Âdinâth, considered to be the incarnation of Shiva. But of the nine Nâth, Gorakhnâth is the most renowned in Rajasthan as a defender of the lower castes. In fact, to better justify their wandering, some communities had chosen in the past to follow the ascetic path of the jogi, becoming disciples of Gorakhnâth.

The Jogi Naths often indentified with gypsies communities are best known for their relationship with the nâga, whom they once chased out of their villages and worshipped as a god, such as the Jogi Sapera (from sapera, “snake”) of Jaipur, where the dancer Gulabi hails from, or the Jogi Nâth of Jodhpur, famous for the dancer Suva Devi.

This very special relationship recently gave rise to the so-called kâlbeliâ dance, or black dress dance (from kâli, “black”), practiced by Jogi Kâlbeliâ women. Its aim is to imitate the fascination exercised by the cobra. This dance, which underwent a real transformation some twenty years ago, inspired by more contemporary gestures borrowed from Bollywood cinema, became the symbol of a folk Rajasthan identity more and more commercial. But still beyond it, one can found from the performers a real knowledge and a deep traditional culture.