Dumhal (Jammu & Kashmir)
The dance of the Kashmiris is called as 'Dumhal'
with long colourful robes, tall conical caps,
studded with beads and shells; the menfolk of
the Wattal perform this dance on specific occasions.
While dancing, the performers sing too, with drums
to assist their music. The party of performers
move in a ritual manner and dig a banner into
the ground at a set location on set occasions.
The dance begins with men dancing around this
banner.
Hikat (Himachal Pradesh)
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.
Dance and music is a way of expression for
the people of Himachal Pradesh. In all regions,
people living in this place of natural beauty,
embellish themselves for the dance at all times.
The breathtaking landscapes and artistic history
is garlanded by the passion for dance in this
land.
The valley of Kulu, celebrates Dussehra with
great grandeur and splendour. There is singing
and dancing, around a collection of images of
Raghunathji, brought from different temples.
There are different dances for different occasions.
Collectively all dances are called Natio. No
festivals or social ceremonies go without dancing.
Namagen (Himachal Pradesh)
Different regions in Himachal Pradesh
have different dances. In most of the dances,
men and women dance together in a close formation.
The autumnal hue is celebrated in September
by a dance performance called Namagen. The most
striking dance amongst these is the Gaddis.
The costumes are largely woollen and richly
studded ornaments of silver are worn by women.
The dances in Uttar Pradesh range from simple
performances to ceremonious ones. They are called
the Doms and the Bhotiyas. Among these the Dhurang
or Dhuring are related to death ceremonies.
These dances aim to free the soul of the dead
person from evil spirits. This dance has robust
movements and remind one of the hunting dances
of Nagas on the eastern borders of India.
Hurka Baul (Uttar Pradesh)
The Jhumeila, the Chaunfla of Garhwal and the
Hurka Baul of Kumaon are seasonal dances. The
Hurka Baul is performed during paddy and maize
cultivation. On a fixed day, after the preliminary
ritual, the dance is performed in different
fields by turns. The name of the dance is derived
from hurka, the drum which constitutes the only
musical accompaniment, and baul, the song. The
singer narrates the story of battles and heroic
deeds, the players 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 players.
A famous dance of Kumaon, Uttar Pradesh, is
the Chholiya, performed during marriages. As
the procession proceeds to the bride's house,
male dancers, armed with swords and shields,
dance spiritedly.
Amongst the occupational groups, the most enthusiastic
dancers are the dhobis, the chamars and the
ahirs. The dhobis dance to celebrate any significant
occasion. They sing and dance on the occasion
of a birth or marriage, and during Holi or Dussehra.
There are Rasa Dances that revolve around the
early life of Krishna.
The most interesting group of dances are the
dances of the agricultural community which revolve
round the annual seasons and which have a ritualistic
and a functional dimension.
Bhangra (Punjab)
One of the most popular dances of India performed
during Baisakhi by the men in Punjab is the
'Bhangra'. Among the most virile and captivating
dances of India it includes tricks and acrobatic
feats. The songs include recitation of meaningless
'bolis', words, such as hoay, hoay.
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 the Gidha, at a time
a woman or a pair of women dance while the others
clap in rhythm. The dance is performed in the
festival of Teeyan to welcome the rains. This
dance also includes a step when women go round
and round with feet planted at one place.
Jhoomer is a dance of graceful gait and self-surrender
and is, sometimes called the cool dance of Punjab.
This is also performed in a circle. Dancers
dance around a single drummer standing in the
centre.
Luddi is also a male dance of Punjab. It is
danced to celebrate a victory. The performers
place one hand at the back and the other before
the face copying the movement of a snake's head.
Jalli is a religious dance associated with
the Pirs. It is usually performed in a sitting
posture. Sometimes it is also danced round the
grave of a preceptor.
Dhamyal (Haryana)
The folk dance of Haryana is known as the 'Dhamyal'
or the 'Duph'. The dance can be performed by
men alone or with women. The Duph which is a
circular drum is played nimbly by the male dancers
as they dance. In Haryana during the spring
after work in the fields has been done with
comes the time for celebration. Lahoor is the
dance performed by women accompanied with songs
which are phrased by witty questions and witty
replies.
Dandiya (Rajasthan)
Dandiya is the folk dance of Rajasthan, which
shows the great vigour and joy of the people
there. Dressed in colourful costumes these people
of the desert play skillfully with big sticks
in their hands. The dances are accompanied by
the musical instrument called the 'Meddale'
played by the drummer in the centre. Ghumer
dance, Raika and Jhoria are other dances of
the 'Bhils' of Rajasthan. Similar to the Bhils
are the Mina tribe who are known for the Gher
Dance, while the Garasias are famous for the
'Valar' dance.
Tarpha Nach
'Tarpha Nach' or 'Pavri Nach' is the dance of
the Kokna tribals from the hilly regions of
the north-west. These dances get their names
from the instruments of 'Tharpa' or 'Pavri',
which are wind instruments made of dried gourd,
played during the dance. The performers dance
in a close formation, holding each other by
the waist. The dances are also performed by
men alone. They form pyramids or rapidly revolve
a dancer round a stout pole.
Tera Tali (Rajasthan)
Two or three women of the 'Kamar' tribe perform
the Tera Tali. They sit on the ground while
performing the Tera Tali which is an elaborate
ritual with many other rituals in it. Small
metal cymbals called Manjiras are tied to different
parts of the body, mostly on the legs. The dancers
hold cymbals in their hands and strike them
in a rhythmic manner. At times the women clench
a sword in between their teeth and a decorative
pot is balanced on the head. The women cover
their head with a veil.
Bihu (Assam)
The folk dance of Assam is called ' Bihu'. Everybody
from the young to the old, rich and poor take
delight in the dance which is a part of the
Bihu festival. The festival comes in mid-April,
during the harvesting time which lasts for a
month. During the day all the young men and
girls gather and dance together though they
do not mix much. Drums and pipes are played
and usually love songs are sung. The dances
are performed in circles or parallel rows.
The Dances of the Nagas portray the sense of
fun and zest in their life. The Zemis, Zeliangs
and other tribes of Assam have a series of dances.
Harvesting season is naturally the time for
celebrations. All the Naga tribes have their
particular harvest dances. The characteristic
feature of all Naga dancing is the use of the
human figure in an erect posture with many movements
of the legs and comparatively little use of
the torso, and the shoulders. Khamba Lim is
performed by two groups of men and women who
stand in two rows. A similar dance is known
as the Akhu.
Hajgiri (Tripura)
Hajgiri is the folk dance of Tripura, the land
of a large tribal population. The dance is performed
by young girls who demonstrate a series of balancing
skills and instruments of their kind. The dances
are a part of their ceremony to appease the
goddess Lakshmi, to ensure a happy harvest,
as cultivation forms a main source of their
livelihood. The compounds of their own houses
are used as dancing grounds by men and women
during principal festival.
Nongkrem (Meghalaya)
To celebrate the remembrance of the evolution
of Khasis, indigenous democratic states called
Hima, 'Nongkrem' dance is performed during autumn
at Smit, in Meghalaya. The Khasis are a tribe
of Meghalaya who also celebrate the ripening
of paddy for threshing, by dances and songs.
Dhol-Cholom (Manipur)
The Thang-ta dance of Manipur was an evolution
from the martial arts exercises encouraged by
the kings of Manipur. The dance is exciting
and is performed by young men holding swords
and shields. One of the instruments that dominates
Manipuri dances is the drum. Dhol Cholom, a
drum dance is one of the dances performed during
Holi.
The folk dances capture the movements of everyday
life as well as animals and birds.
In Arunachal Pradesh, an organised group of
tribal performers perform dances, plays, musical
scripts, dance dramas based on stories of Buddha.
The dancers wear masks of demons or animals
described in the tales of Buddha and splendid
costumes. These are mostly performed in monasteries
during festivals.
In Sikkim the men are attracted more towards
the monastic style of dancing, while the women
have their own folk dance. The dances of Sikkim
are different than those of Indian traditions.
Masks used in dances are something close to
Indian cultural dances.