Popular Folk Dances of India

Category :- All India Travel Tourism > Culture > Dance > Folk

India's diversity in culture and tradition can be seen in its folk art tradition too. The Folk dance has different faces in different regions, from the Himalayas of the north-west to the eastern hills of Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, the plains of Gujarat, Rajasthan, U.P. and Bengal, the plateau of Maharashtra, Chhota Nagpur, the areas of Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and south-western regions of Orissa, the coasts of the Eastern and Western Ghats and the southern parts of India. This journey into the heart of the folk dances of various regions bring you closer to the the life and spirit of the common people.

Dumhal is a dance performed by the menfolk of the Wattal tribe of Kashmir on specific occasions. The performers wear long colourful robes, tall conical caps which are studded with beads and shells. The party moves in a procession carrying a banner in a very ceremonial fashion. It is dug into the ground and the men begin to dance, forming a circle. The musical accompaniment comprises a drum and the vocal singing of the participants. Dumhal is performed on set occasions and at set locations.

Hikat, danced by women, is a modification of a game played by children. Forming pairs, the participants extend their arms to the front gripping each other's wrists and with the body inclined back, go round and round at the same spot.

With wide range and variety of the ethnic groups, Himachal Pradesh is blessed with natural beauty and artistic history. People living in this natural beauty, adorn themselves for the dance at all times of the year, in all regions, and continue to express themselves through music and dance.

In the Kulu valley, the festival of Dussehra is celebrated with great pomp and show. Images of Raghunathji are brought from the different shrines to a central place, and then there is singing and dancing. Dances of the region are collectively known as Natio, though each may be meant for a different purpose. No festive occasion, including wedding and similar social ceremonies, is complete without dancing.

All regions of Himachal Pradesh have their own dances. Mostly men and women dance together, close to each other in the formation.

The Namagen dance is performed in September to celebrate the autumnal hues. The costumes are largely woollen and richly studded ornaments of silver are worn by women. The most picturesque amongst these are dances of Gaddis.

The dances of the Doms and the Bhotiyas in Uttar Pradesh range from simple performances of rejoicing to ritualistic dances. The most amongst these is the Dhurang or Dhuring dance which is connected with the death ceremonies. Its objective is to liberate the soul of the dead person from evil spirits. All the dancers hold swords and dance in a circle. The movements are virile and reminds one of the hunting dances of the Nagas on the eastern borders of India.