Popular Folk Dances of India

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

The Jawara is performed in the Bundelkhand area of Madhya Pradesh. It is essentially a harvest dance-reflecting the gaiety and pleasure of the peasants who have reaped a good harvest. The dance is performed by men and women together. The costumes and jewellery worn by the women are colourful. The women carry baskets full of jawara on their heads and although the dance is very vigorous they are able to balance these baskets very skillfully on their heads. The accompaniment includes a rich variety of percussion, stringed and wind instruments.

The state of Bihar has a variety of dance forms which includes religious dances, the dances of the adivasis and the famous Chhau dance of the Seraikella of Southern Bihar. The most important dances are Karma, Jatra and Paika dances. On the Ekadashi day of Bhadra month, a branch of Karma tree is planted and Pooja is offered by dancing. Men, women and children who after drinking Handia or rice beer dance continuously for 3 days.

Nongkrem
Among the tribals of Meghalaya are the Khasis, who celebrate with song and dance when the paddy is ripe for threshing. Nongkrem Dance of Meghalaya is celebrated during autumn at Smit, the cultural centre of the Khasi Hills, to essentially commemorate the evolution of Khasi indigenous democratic states called Hima.

Dhol Cholom
The kings of Manipur encouraged the martial arts, because of which evolved a variety of combat exercises, which later lent themselves to dancing. One of the most thrilling of the dances is the Thang-ta, performed by young men with sword and shield.

The drum, by itself, enjoys a privilege in the dances of Manipur. There are several kinds of drums, each intended for a particular occasion. The festival of Holi, in spring, is the real time for drum dances, such as Dhol Cholom.

Besides the ritual and harvest dances, there are the simple recreational dances which capture movements of animals and birds and everyday functions.

The tribes of Arunachal Pradesh nourish dances, dance dramas, pantomimes and operas based on Buddhist stories and legends. There are organised parties of performers, as well as facilities for training. The dancers themselves make the masks, representing demons and animals connected with Buddhist lore, and the gorgeous costumes. Performances take place mostly in monasteries during festivals.

The dances of Sikkim have little relationship with Indian traditions except in the cases of mask dances which have the same format as the Buddhist dances still practised. The women here have their independent folk dances but the men by and large are attracted only to the monastic versions.