Folk Dances of India

India is a land of culture, tradition and beliefs. The Indian dance forms are also an important part of Indian culture. Folk Dances of India represent the ancient traditions and customs that existed here and showcase the grandeur of the past and the beliefs of the present.

Let us know about some of the folk dances of India.

Bardo Chham

This is a dance that is predominantly found in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. There is a small community called the Shedukpens here in the district of West Kameng. They perform this dance which is significantly a representation of good over evil. This dance form has an interesting detail. These Sherdukpens who form the main dancers believe that in a year there are 12 kinds of animals. These animals represent the forces of evil and meet every month. So the dance form shows the dancers wearing masks of animals and dancing as if there is an attempt to drive off these very evil forces. Instruments used in the dance are the cymbals and the drum.

Cheraw Dance

This is another intriguing dance form from the state of Mizoram in India. With a perfect display of skill and rhythm, this is a dance done with bamboos. There are two pairs who hold the bamboos in a crossed pattern on the ground. These bamboo sticks are clapped together. Thus the main dance lies in the way the other dancers jump through these sticks forming weaving pattern. This dance pattern is very alike the popular dance forms of the Philippines and Egypt. It is believed that the Mizos who migrated to India introduced this dance form in India.

Dol Chalam

Then you have the Dol Cholam which is a predominant dance form in Manipur, and is very popular amongst tourists. Many drums, are used in this dance, hence giving the name of Dol Chalam where Dol means Drum in Manipuri. It is mainly danced during the HOli festival.

Chang Lo (or) Sua

The Chang Lo (or) Sua La is a famous Nagaland dance. This is mainly a dance of the Chang tribe in Nagaland. It usually was performed when an enemy was defeated. Today this dance form is performed during the three day festival Poanglem. The festival is celebrated before the harvest time. The dance is very colourful with the interesting dresses of the Naga warriors and the beautiful vibrant costumes of the females. It is a must see for any art lover and is immensely popular amongst dancers.

Hojagiri

In the State of Tripura in India, there is a dance called Hojagiri. This shows the culture that existed in the past and looks beautiful with   simple but unique movements. This is a dance of the community of REang here in this state. The specialty of the dance is that only the lower body is moved to a certain rhythm and most of the dancers perform a lot of feats which. The twisting and turning movements in this dance by the Reang girls who sometimes dance on an earthen pot or balance a bottle on their head enhances the whole experience.

Folk dances of India are many. It is interesting to know about them and fascinating to see them.