What does Folk dance actually mean?
-> Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances
and are performed to express
joy and happiness among themselves. Folk and
tribal dances are performed for every possible
occasion which involving joy and euphoria . As a
whole these dances are performed usually both by
men and women both. And since these dances are
performed by the common people ,these dances
involve easy steps with less movements
1. ANDHRA PRADESH: Kolattam
2. ASSAM: Bihu, Jhumur, Ali Ali Nigang 21. SIKKIM: Singhi Chham
3. JHARKHAND: Karma/Munda 22. TAMIL NADU: Bharatnatyam
4. CHATTISGARH: Panthi, Raut Nacha, Gaur Maria 23. TRIPURA: Hojagiri
5. GOA: 24. WEST BENGAL:Gambhira,Alkap
6. GUJRAT: Garba , Dandiya , Tippani
7. HIMACHAL PRADESH: Kinnauri Nati, Namgen
8. HARYANA:
9. KARNATAKA: Yakshagana, Bayalata, Dollu kunitha
10. JAMMU AND KASHMIR: Kud, Dumhal
11. KERALA: Theyyam, Koodiyattam
12. MADHYA PRADESH: Tertali, Jawara
13. MAHARASTRA: Pavri Naach, Laavani
14. MANIPUR: Thang Ta, Dhol Cholom
15. MIZORAM: Cheraw Dance
16. NAGALAND: Chang Lo
17. ODISHA: Goti Pua, Ghumura
18. PUDDUCHERRY: Garadi
19. PUNJAB: Bhangra, Giddha
20. RAJASTHAN: Ghoomar
Kollatam
• Populary known as
“STICK DANCE”
• Rural art usually
performed during village
festivals
• Dance groups comprises
of 10-40 members
• Sticks provide the rhythm
• Also known as KOLANNA
JHUMUR
BIHU
ALI AI LIGANG
• Originated in Assam and
now this dance form
became very popular in
bangladesh and eastern
india.
• This dance is performed
by Young girls and boys.
• This dance is performed
in harvest season.
• Performed in spring
festival
• Specially in the
beginning of Ahu paddy
cultivation
• Begins in first
Wednesday of february
• Young people of both
genders take part
• Performed by both
young men & women
• Brisk Dance steps and
hand movement
• Drums and horns are
used
• Colorful dresses worn
• Men wear dhoti’s;
women wear saris
KARMA/MUNDA
• Dance named after Karma
tree
• Ceremony starts with
planting of trees
• Both men & women take
part
• Form cirlces and dance
• Very loud and
encouraging beats
PANTHI
RAUT NACHA
• Usually done by
Yadavs
• Symbol of worship to
Lord Krishna
• Done during “ DEV
UDHNI EKADASHI”
• Close resemblance
of raas leela
• Dance of Satnami
Community
• Performed during
Maghi Purnima
• Includes variety of
steps and patterns
• Dances reflect true
essence of life
GARBA
DANDIYA
• Customarily performed
by women
• Involves clapping and
hand movemnets
• Performed during
NAVARATRI
• Energetic and vibrant
Dance
• “Stick Dance”
• Represents fight of
GOD with evil
• Garba and dandiya are
performed together
Kinnauri Nati
Namgen
• It takes its name
from “Losai”
• It depicts all
activities involved
in sowing the crop
and reaping it
BACK
• Dance is performed in
September to celebrate
autumnal hues
• Performing women
wear heavy silver
jwellery
• Men and women
perform together.
BACK
Yakshagana
Dollu kunitha
• Involving theatre,
art,dance,music,dialogue
,story
• Involves combination of
classical and folk
elements
• Can be equated as
western opera
• Also called aataa’
BACK
• Popularly known as drum
dance
• Performed by the men of
shepherd community
known as “kurba”
• Men perform with large
drum decorted with
coloured clothes
• Dance is at times
accompanied by songs
BACK
Kud
Dumhal
• Performed in nights to
honour “lok devtas”
• Involves interesting
steps & movements
• Drums and narshimha
instruments are used
• Performed in centre
of mountains
BACK
• Performed by women
folk of Wattal tribe
• Dancers wear colorful
robes
• Banners are carried
during the dance
• Locations of the dance
are set
BACK
Theyyam,
kailkottkall
Theyyam
• The term ‘theyyam’ is
Supposed to be the corrupt
form of the Malayalam
word‘Daivam’, Meaning God
• The name Thirayattam as
every village performed this
riualistic art at the village
• Theyyam other wise temple known as kaavu
know as Kaliyattam .
is one of the most
outstanding folk arts
of kerala. BACK
Kaikottikali or Thiruvathirakali
• Kaikottikali ,,also known as
Thiruvathirakali ,is a very
popular group dance of
kerala.
• Thiruvathirakali is performed
by the women of Hindu
community often during
festive seasons like Onam and
the Thiruvathira day in the BACK
Malayalam month of Dhanu
( December- January)
MADHYA PRADESH
TERTALI
JAWARA
Tertali
• The Kamar tribe performs the
Tera Tali, which is an
elaborate ritual with many
elements of dance. Its
generally performed by two
or three women who sit on
the ground .The head is
covered with a veil, and at
times a small sword is
clenched between the teeth
and an ornamental pot
balanced on the head.
JAWARA
The Jawara is performed in the
Bundelkhand area of Madhya
Pradesh. Its 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. The women carry
baskets full of jawara on their
heads athough the dance is very
vigorous they are able to
balance these baskets very
skillfully on their heads.
MAHARASHTRA
PAVRI NACH
LAVANI
PAVRI NACH
In the hilly regions of the
north west , the Kokna
tribal dance to the
accompaniment of the
tarpha or pavri, a wind
instrument made of dried
ground. Because of this ,
the dance is known as
Tarpha [Link]
performers holds each
other by the waist and
dance in close formation.
LAVANI
Lavani is a combination of
traditional song and dance
, which is particularly
performed to the beats of
Dholki, a percussion
instrument. Lavani is noted
for its powerful rhythem
and erotic [Link]
has contributed
substantially to the
development of Marathi
folk theatre. its performed
by the female performers
wearing nine-yard long
saris. The song are sung in
a quick tempo.
MANIPUR
THANG TA
DHOL CHOLOM
THANG TA
Thang Ta (The Art of the Sword and Spear)
is the material art form exclusive to
Manipur. Where Thang means sword and
Ta means spear. In this amazing display of
the traditional art of warfare, performers
leap and attack each other and defend
themselves.
Thang Ta is an ingenious display of skill
and creativity. The art has a ritualistic
aspect with some movements of sword
intended to ward off evil spirit.
DHOL CHOLOM
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. Lai
haraoba dance is
also a major folk
dance of Manipur.
CHERAW DANCE
CHERAW DANCE
Cheraw dance is a ritual dance performed
in Mizoram, India, consisting of four people
holding two crossed pairs of bamboo staves. It
is one of the most famous dances in Mizoram,
and a center of attraction during festive
occasions. Similar dances are found in the Far
East and in the Philippines, where it is known
as Tinikling) The Cheraw dance is
characterized by the use of bamboo staves,
which are kept in cross and horizontal forms
on the ground. While the male dancers move
these bamboo staves in rhythmic beats, the
female dancers perform by stepping in and
out of the bamboo blocks. Recognized as one
of the oldest dances of Mizoram, the Cheraw
dance has become an integral part of almost
every festival of Mizoram.
NAGALAND
CHANG LO
CHANG LO
This dance of the Chang tribe
of Nagaland was performed to
celebrate the victory over
enemies in the earlier times.
Presently, it forms a part of all
the community celebrations like
Poanglem - the three day festival
preceding the harvest season.
The dramatic costumes of the
traditional Naga warrior and the
finery of womenfolk make this
dance a visual treat.
ODISHA
GOTI PUA
GHUMURA
GOTIPUA
Gotipua is a traditional dance form in the
state of Odisha, India, and the precursor
of Odissi classical dance.[1] It has been
performed in Orissa for centuries by
young boys, who dress as women to
praise Jagannath and Krishna. The dance
is executed by a group of boys who
perform acrobatic figures inspired by the
life of Radha and Krishna. The boys begin
to learn the dance at an early age until
adolescence, when their androgynous
appearance changes. In the Odia
language Gotipua, means "single boy"
(goti-pua).[2] Raghurajpur, Odisha
(nearPuri) is an historic village known for
its Gotipua dance troupes.
GHUMURA
Ghumura dance (Odia: ଘୁମର ୁ ା
ନାଟ, Kalahandia: ଘୁମ୍ରା ନାଚ୍) is a
folk dance of Kalahandi
district of
the Indian state Orissa.[1] It is
classified as folk dance as the
dress code of Ghumura
resembles more like a tribal
dance, but there are
arguments about[2] mudra and
dance forms of Ghumura
bearing more resemblance
with other classical dance
forms of India.
PUDUCHERRY
GARADI
GARADI
Garadi is a dance
performed
in Puducherry. It is the
most famous dance of
Puducherry.[1]
This dance has
mythological origin. It is
performed during all
festivals of the region.
This dance lasts for 5 to 8
hours
PUNJAB
BHANGRA
GIDDHA
BHANGRA
The
term Bhaṅgṛā (Punjabi: (Gurmukhi), Sha
hmukhi);
pronounced [pə̀ŋɡɽaː]) Listen refers to the
traditional dance originating in
the Majha area of the Punjab
region;[1] free form traditional Bhangra
originating in Punjab, India and modern
Bhangra developed by the Punjabi
diaspora
GIDHHA
Giddha (Punjabi: giddhā) is a popular folk
dance of women in Punjab
region of India and Pakistan. The dance is
often considered derived from the ancient
dance known as the ring dance and is just as
energetic as Bhangra; at the same time it
manages to creatively display feminine
grace, elegance and flexibilty. It is a very
colourful dance form which is now copied in
all regions of the country. Women perform
this dance mainly at festive or social
occasions.[1]
RAJASTHAN
JHOOMAR
GHOOMAR
Ghoomar is a traditional folk dance of
rajasthan. It was Bhil tribe who
performed it to worship godess
saraswati , which was later embraced by
other rajasthani communities.
The dance typically involves peformers
pirouetting while moving in and out of a
wide circle. Ghoomar is performed on
speacial ocassions like weddings,
festivals and religious occassions.
SIKKIM
SINGHI CHHAM
SINGHI CHHAM
Singhi Chham or Kanchendzonga Dance is a
dance form in Sikkim whereby the dancers
perform in a lion costume that represents
the snow lion. It is a dance of
the Bhutiapeople, and was said to have been
introduced by Chador Namgyal, the
third Chogyal of Sikkim, in the 18th century. It
is usually performed during the Panglapsool
festival.
In this dance, there may be two to four snow
lions, each snow lion consists of two men in a
lion costume, which is white with a bluish
mane. The dance is accompanied by a single
drummer.] It has religious association as the
peaks of Kangchenjunga (Khang-Chen Dzong
Pa), which is sacred to the people of Sikkim,
are believed to resemble the legendary snow
lion.
TAMIL NADU
OyilKummi or OyilAttam
Karagaattam
OyilKummi or OyilAttam
This is an ancient folk dance form
performed exclusively by men
narrating mythological stories
centred
onMurugan and Vali during the
temple festivals. The only
musical instrument used in this
rare folk art form is the bells
worn around the ankles,
or Ghungroo. Once extremely
popular in Trichi, Salem and
Periyar districts, it is now being
practiced by the Telegu speaking
communities of the northern
districts
Karagaattam
Karagaattam or Karagam is another
ancient folk dance performed by the village
communities in the praise of the rain
goddess Maari Amman and the river
goddess Gangai Amman. Always
accompanied with music, the dance has
two parts – Atta
Karagam and SakthiKaragam. The dancers
carry a decorated pot on their heads
balancing it through the intricate
movements of the body. Though now
performed all over the state, it is believed
to have originated from Thanjavur district
and most artists hail from
Thanjavur, Pudukottai,Ramanathapuram,
Madurai and Salem. It is one of the more
popular folk dances if the state.
TRIPURA
HOJAGIRI
HOJAGIRI
Hojagiri is a folk dance, performed in the
state of Tripura, Indiaby
the Reang people. It is performed by
women and young girls, about 4 to 6
members in a team, singing, balancing on
an earthen pitcher and managing other
props such as a bottle on the head and
earthen lamp on the [Link] only the
lower half of the body is moved.
The dance is performed on the occasion
of Hojagiri festivals or Laxmi Puja, held in
the following full moon night
of Durga Puja. generally after 3rd day of
Dashera. The Goddess Mailuma, (Laxmi) is
worshipped on this day
WEST BENGAL
GAMBHIRA
ALKAP
GAMBHIRA
Gambhira (Bengali: is a type of song
(originating in Chapai Nawabganj, in the
Northern region of Bangladesh).It is
performed with a particularly distinctive
rhythm and dance with two performers,
always personifying a man and his
maternal grandfather, discussing a topic
to raise social awareness. This kind of
song is also quite popular
in Malda of West Bengal, India.
Gombhira also refers to a dance form
practised in districts of south dinajpur
and kuchbihar. Various masks are curved
out from wooden pieces and the
dancers wear the masks while
performing the Gombhira dance
ALKAP
Alkap (Bengali: is a form
of Bengali folk performance
popular in the districts
of Murshidabad, Malda and
Birbhum in West
Bengal and Chapai
Nawabganj, Randajshahi inBa
ngladesh.[1] It has also spread
to the adjoining areas
of Jharkhand and Bihar such
as Dumka and Purnia.[2]
