VandeMataram
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India is a land of rich and diverse culture as well as traditions, which is very well displayed through the folk dances and music. Every region of the country has their own dance forms that depict the cultural ethos of a particular community or a state as a whole. In most of the folk dances of India epitomizes and elucidates the traditions as well as the lifestyle of people. Folk dances of the country are filled with diversity regarding styles, forms and themes and continue to be a perspicuous type, which can be classified by the splendid participation of all people. Moreover, these dances play a significant role in the development of cultures of different socio-economic sects and offer the best means to express the emotions of people.
Here is a list of some of the popular folk dances of India, classified on the basis of geography.
Folk Dances of Central India
Jawara Dance , Madhya Pradesh
Jawara is one of the popular folk dances of Central India and it has its genesis in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. This folk dance is performed during the harvest season and reflects the joy and enthusiasm of the peasants who have reaped a good harvest. The dance is performed by men and women together. Women dancers wear colorful and bright the costumes and are adorned with jewelry. They carry pots filled with Jawara on their heads, balancing them quite skillfully. The accompaniment includes a rich variety of percussion, stringed and wind instruments.
Gaur Dance , Madhya Pradesh
A popular folk dance of Madhya Pradesh is Gaur, which is also known by the names of Sing Marias or Tallaguda Marias and is a popular dance form of South Bastar. It involves men wearing head-dresses, with stringed 'cowries' and plumes of peacock feathers, making their way to the dancing ground. They beat the drums, tossing the horns and feathers of their head-gears to the rising tempo, which gives a wilder touch to the dance. Women, ornamented with brass fillets and bead necklaces around their tattooed bodies, also join the gathering.
Folk Dances of East India
The eastern part of India includes states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Some of the popular dance forms of East India are:
Chhau Dance , Bihar
A popular folk dance of Bihar is the Chhau Dance, which represents enormous energy and vigor. The word 'Chhau' comes from the Sanskrit root 'Chhaya', which means shade. As masks are an essential feature of this dance form, it got its name 'Chhau', which means mask. All the performers hold swords and shields, while performing this particular dance form. Chhau dance is a dance full of vitality and robustness, unlike any of the Indian dances. During the performance, the entire body and being of the dancer is employed as a single unit i.e. as his language. This body language is extremely poetic and powerful. The legs even form an effective means of communicating the expression. Although the face is covered by the mask, it mysteriously expresses the feelings to be communicated. This dance contains three important elements, namely Raga (melody), Bhava (mood) and Tala (rhythmic timing). An expression of a mood, state or condition, this folk dance depicts nature and the animal world, which can be confirmed with the various forms such as Sagara Nritya (ocean dance), Sarpa Nritya (serpent dance) and Mayura Nritya.
Brita Dance , West Bengal
Brita Dance is a dance form of West Bengal, the state that is known for its rich cultural heritage. Also known as Vrita, this dance form is mainly performed in the rural areas by the women folk, the dance is performed in the premises of a temple to placate the deity and to get blessings of the Almighty. According to the accepted credence, this dance is performed in gratefulness after a wish has been fulfilled. It is also performed after the recovery from a contagious disease such as small pox.
Dalkhai , Orissa
A dance form of the Eastern state of Orissa, Dalkhai is a folk dance performed essentially by the females of the tribes, from the Sambalpur district of Orissa. An energetic dance form performed during the festivals to add zest to the celebration. The men generally play the musical instruments and the drummers often join the dance. A dummy horse version is the Chaiti Ghorha, danced by a community of fisher folk. In this art, the performers are essentially men. Apart from dancing, the performers sing, deliver homilies of sorts and offer brief dramatic enactments, peppered with wit and humor.
Folk Dances of North India
The Northern part of India encompasses states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Some of the popular dances of this region are:
Dumhal , Jammu & Kashmir
A dance form of Jammu & Kashmir is Dumhal, which is a popular folk dance performed by the Kashmiris. The dance is performed by wearing long colorful robes and tall conical caps, studded with beads and shells. Dumhal is particularly performed by the men of Wattal on special occasions. Dancers sing with the drum beats while performing the dance to support the lyrics.
Hikat , Himachal Pradesh
Essentially performed by the women folk, Haikat appears as an adaptation of a game played by children. Forming pairs, the participants extend their arms to the front, gripping each other's wrists. With their body inclined back, they go round and round at the same spot.
Namagen is another folk dance that is specific to the state of Himachal Pradesh, which is mainly performed to celebrate the autumn hue, in the month of September.
Hurka Baul , Uttar Pradesh
Hurka Baul is a dance form of Uttar Pradesh performed during paddy and maize cultivation, in different fields, by turns. Its name has been derived from the terms 'hurka', the drum which constitutes the only musical accompaniment to the dance, and 'baul', the song. The singer narrates the story of battles and heroic deeds, while the dancers enter from two opposite sides and enact the stories, in a series of crisp movements. The farmers form two rows and move backwards, in unison, while responding to the tunes of the song and the rhythm of the dancers.
Bhangra & Gidha , Punjab
One of the most popular dances of North India, performed during the festival of Baisakhi, is the Bhangra. Among the most virile and captivating dances of India, it is undertaken by men and includes tricks and acrobatic feats. The drummer, usually in the centre of the circle, is surrounded by men dressed in lungis and turbans. The dance performed by the women folk of Punjab is called the Gidha. In this dance form, a woman or a pair of women dances at a time, while the others surround them and clap in rhythm. The dance is mainly performed during the festival of Teeyan, to welcome the rains.
Dhamyal , Haryana
Dhamyal is the folk dance of Haryana, which can be performed by men alone as well as with women. Also known as Duph, this dance is quite popular in the state. A circular drum is played adroitly by the male dancers while dancing.
Folk Dances of West India
The western part of the country includes the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Some of the prominent dance forms of this region include:
Dandiya , Gujarat
Dandiya is the folk dance of Gujarat, which shows the great vigor and joy of the people. Dressed in colorful costumes, the people of the desert play dandiya gracefully, by holding big sticks in their hands (used as the prop for the dance). The dances are accompanied by the musical instrument called the 'Meddale', which is played by the drummer positioned in the centre. Apart from being a traditional dance form of the state, Dandiya features in the 'navratras', a nine-day festival that is observed with pomp and gaiety across many parts of the country.
Lavani , Maharashtra
One of the most popular dances of Maharashtra is Lavani, which is performed by the women folk for entertainment of men. This dance form is of two types, namely Nirguni Lavani and Shringari Lavani. Nirguni Lavani includes philosophy and the later has the shades to erocity and is popular in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Lavani is a graceful form and the performance if based on a varied subject matter like society, religion, politics, romance, etc. Dancers are dressed in bright colored saris and are decked up with heavy jewelry.
Folk Dances of South India
The southern part of India encompasses the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Some of the popular dance forms of this region are:
Padayani or Paddeni , Kerala
Padayani or Paddeni is a popular dance form of Kerala, which is mainly performed in the districts of Alleppey, Quilon, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. This dance form is performed in the temples of these regions and involves a series of divine and semi divine masquerades. The performers of this dance form include dancers or actors, singers and instrumentalists. Kolams are worn by the dancers and have different shapes, colors and designs, painted on the stalks of areca nut fronds. These are basically masks or headgears, which represents Bhairavi (Kali), Kalan (god of death), Yakshi (fairy) and Pakshi (bird).
Kummi and Kolattam , Tamil Nadu
Kummi and Kolattam are the most popular dance forms of Tamil Nadu, which is performed only by the tribal women of the state during special occasions and festivals. Kummi is a very simple form of dance, where dancers form circles and clap as they dance. Kolattam as well is quite a simple dance form; however, the only difference is that small wooden rods are used by the dancers in this dance form.
Here is a list of some of the popular folk dances of India, classified on the basis of geography.
Folk Dances of Central India
Jawara Dance , Madhya Pradesh
Jawara is one of the popular folk dances of Central India and it has its genesis in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. This folk dance is performed during the harvest season and reflects the joy and enthusiasm of the peasants who have reaped a good harvest. The dance is performed by men and women together. Women dancers wear colorful and bright the costumes and are adorned with jewelry. They carry pots filled with Jawara on their heads, balancing them quite skillfully. The accompaniment includes a rich variety of percussion, stringed and wind instruments.
Gaur Dance , Madhya Pradesh
A popular folk dance of Madhya Pradesh is Gaur, which is also known by the names of Sing Marias or Tallaguda Marias and is a popular dance form of South Bastar. It involves men wearing head-dresses, with stringed 'cowries' and plumes of peacock feathers, making their way to the dancing ground. They beat the drums, tossing the horns and feathers of their head-gears to the rising tempo, which gives a wilder touch to the dance. Women, ornamented with brass fillets and bead necklaces around their tattooed bodies, also join the gathering.
Folk Dances of East India
The eastern part of India includes states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa. Some of the popular dance forms of East India are:
Chhau Dance , Bihar
A popular folk dance of Bihar is the Chhau Dance, which represents enormous energy and vigor. The word 'Chhau' comes from the Sanskrit root 'Chhaya', which means shade. As masks are an essential feature of this dance form, it got its name 'Chhau', which means mask. All the performers hold swords and shields, while performing this particular dance form. Chhau dance is a dance full of vitality and robustness, unlike any of the Indian dances. During the performance, the entire body and being of the dancer is employed as a single unit i.e. as his language. This body language is extremely poetic and powerful. The legs even form an effective means of communicating the expression. Although the face is covered by the mask, it mysteriously expresses the feelings to be communicated. This dance contains three important elements, namely Raga (melody), Bhava (mood) and Tala (rhythmic timing). An expression of a mood, state or condition, this folk dance depicts nature and the animal world, which can be confirmed with the various forms such as Sagara Nritya (ocean dance), Sarpa Nritya (serpent dance) and Mayura Nritya.
Brita Dance , West Bengal
Brita Dance is a dance form of West Bengal, the state that is known for its rich cultural heritage. Also known as Vrita, this dance form is mainly performed in the rural areas by the women folk, the dance is performed in the premises of a temple to placate the deity and to get blessings of the Almighty. According to the accepted credence, this dance is performed in gratefulness after a wish has been fulfilled. It is also performed after the recovery from a contagious disease such as small pox.
Dalkhai , Orissa
A dance form of the Eastern state of Orissa, Dalkhai is a folk dance performed essentially by the females of the tribes, from the Sambalpur district of Orissa. An energetic dance form performed during the festivals to add zest to the celebration. The men generally play the musical instruments and the drummers often join the dance. A dummy horse version is the Chaiti Ghorha, danced by a community of fisher folk. In this art, the performers are essentially men. Apart from dancing, the performers sing, deliver homilies of sorts and offer brief dramatic enactments, peppered with wit and humor.
Folk Dances of North India
The Northern part of India encompasses states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Some of the popular dances of this region are:
Dumhal , Jammu & Kashmir
A dance form of Jammu & Kashmir is Dumhal, which is a popular folk dance performed by the Kashmiris. The dance is performed by wearing long colorful robes and tall conical caps, studded with beads and shells. Dumhal is particularly performed by the men of Wattal on special occasions. Dancers sing with the drum beats while performing the dance to support the lyrics.
Hikat , Himachal Pradesh
Essentially performed by the women folk, Haikat appears as an adaptation of a game played by children. Forming pairs, the participants extend their arms to the front, gripping each other's wrists. With their body inclined back, they go round and round at the same spot.
Namagen is another folk dance that is specific to the state of Himachal Pradesh, which is mainly performed to celebrate the autumn hue, in the month of September.
Hurka Baul , Uttar Pradesh
Hurka Baul is a dance form of Uttar Pradesh performed during paddy and maize cultivation, in different fields, by turns. Its name has been derived from the terms 'hurka', the drum which constitutes the only musical accompaniment to the dance, and 'baul', the song. The singer narrates the story of battles and heroic deeds, while the dancers enter from two opposite sides and enact the stories, in a series of crisp movements. The farmers form two rows and move backwards, in unison, while responding to the tunes of the song and the rhythm of the dancers.
Bhangra & Gidha , Punjab
One of the most popular dances of North India, performed during the festival of Baisakhi, is the Bhangra. Among the most virile and captivating dances of India, it is undertaken by men and includes tricks and acrobatic feats. The drummer, usually in the centre of the circle, is surrounded by men dressed in lungis and turbans. The dance performed by the women folk of Punjab is called the Gidha. In this dance form, a woman or a pair of women dances at a time, while the others surround them and clap in rhythm. The dance is mainly performed during the festival of Teeyan, to welcome the rains.
Dhamyal , Haryana
Dhamyal is the folk dance of Haryana, which can be performed by men alone as well as with women. Also known as Duph, this dance is quite popular in the state. A circular drum is played adroitly by the male dancers while dancing.
Folk Dances of West India
The western part of the country includes the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Some of the prominent dance forms of this region include:
Dandiya , Gujarat
Dandiya is the folk dance of Gujarat, which shows the great vigor and joy of the people. Dressed in colorful costumes, the people of the desert play dandiya gracefully, by holding big sticks in their hands (used as the prop for the dance). The dances are accompanied by the musical instrument called the 'Meddale', which is played by the drummer positioned in the centre. Apart from being a traditional dance form of the state, Dandiya features in the 'navratras', a nine-day festival that is observed with pomp and gaiety across many parts of the country.
Lavani , Maharashtra
One of the most popular dances of Maharashtra is Lavani, which is performed by the women folk for entertainment of men. This dance form is of two types, namely Nirguni Lavani and Shringari Lavani. Nirguni Lavani includes philosophy and the later has the shades to erocity and is popular in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Lavani is a graceful form and the performance if based on a varied subject matter like society, religion, politics, romance, etc. Dancers are dressed in bright colored saris and are decked up with heavy jewelry.
Folk Dances of South India
The southern part of India encompasses the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Some of the popular dance forms of this region are:
Padayani or Paddeni , Kerala
Padayani or Paddeni is a popular dance form of Kerala, which is mainly performed in the districts of Alleppey, Quilon, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam. This dance form is performed in the temples of these regions and involves a series of divine and semi divine masquerades. The performers of this dance form include dancers or actors, singers and instrumentalists. Kolams are worn by the dancers and have different shapes, colors and designs, painted on the stalks of areca nut fronds. These are basically masks or headgears, which represents Bhairavi (Kali), Kalan (god of death), Yakshi (fairy) and Pakshi (bird).
Kummi and Kolattam , Tamil Nadu
Kummi and Kolattam are the most popular dance forms of Tamil Nadu, which is performed only by the tribal women of the state during special occasions and festivals. Kummi is a very simple form of dance, where dancers form circles and clap as they dance. Kolattam as well is quite a simple dance form; however, the only difference is that small wooden rods are used by the dancers in this dance form.
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