Folk Dance

The Culture of Uttarakhand is intertwined with its past. India is well known for its diverse cultures and traditions, and its unique culture is visible in its various art forms.

The folk dance from Uttarakhand may not be as complex as other classical dances, but it’s still stunning to watch. This is a representation of the longstanding beliefs and traditions of the local people, and it is done with joy to celebrate the beginning of a new season.

Barada Nati, Bhotiya Dance, Chancheri, Chhapeli, Choliya Dance, Jagars, Jhora, Langvir Dance, Langvir Nritya, Pandav Nritya, Ramola, Shotiya Tribal Folk Dances, Thali-Jadda and Jhainta are some of the folk dances performed in various occasions in Uttarakhand.

Barada Nati

The Barada Nati is a well-known folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Tehsil Chakrata in Dehradun district. The folk dance Barada Nati is performed in the evening before some religious festivals or during some social functions. Both male and female dancers take part in the dance, wearing colorful traditional costumes.

Chancheri

Chancheri is a dance that is shared among the people in the Danpur Patti region of the Bageshwar District in Kumaon. Both genders perform an exhilarating dance in a semi-circle, gradually increasing the tempo to express joy.

Chhapeli

The Chhapeli dance is done with the female dancer carrying a mirror in her left hand and a handkerchief of a unique color in her right.

A man on his left shoulder performed A Hudukka with accompaniment from other instruments such as the Hurka, Manjira and Flute. This dance is a couple’s performance expressing the joy of romance.

The female partner (sometimes a young boy) dances with a broad smile and graceful waist movements, either to pay tribute to her beauty and charm or in a teasing manner to express her love.

Choliya Dance

The Chholiya Dance has a long history, going back to over a thousand years, when it originated in the warring Khasiya Kingdom of Khandesh, and marriages were conducted with swords. The Chand kings arrived in the 10th century, bringing the people together.

In Nepal, the term Khasa remains synonymous with Kashatrya, and even in Khasdesh, they adopted the traditions of the Rajputs, who were themselves considered Kshatryas. Keeping the old tradition alive, the Rajputs dance this at their weddings as a part of the marriage procession itself, led by the male dancers who go on dancing until they reach the bride’s house.

Rajputs perform in pairs with swords and shields, and the drummers are typically Harijans referred to as Dholies. The Turi and Ransing are usually played by Bairagis, Jogis or Gosains. Turi and Ransing are instruments that are typical of the Kumaon region. The dancers demonstrate several sword-fighting routines with perfect timing, combined with jumps and body movements.

Dressed in their ceremonial costumes, the warriors waves swords and shields and the warlike music was heard. The huge red flag with animal symbols on it struck fear, joy, awe and wonder in the observers, as if they were advancing to attack.

Jagars

Jaggar is a combination of singing and dancing, which is used to worship ghosts and spirits. Occasionally, Jaggar is performed as Puja folk songs and sung to pay tribute to various gods and goddesses.

Jhora

When a community dance is held, it is a time when all boundaries of caste are broken, aside from the village where the high and lower castes have separate Jhoras. Singing is usually a part of the dancing at fairs, and it grows louder as the dance continues.

These dances can take place either morning or evening, and they are used to welcoming the spring, normally at fairs and sometimes at weddings. Six is the least number of people, though it can grow to 200, with men and women joining in. Moving in a circular pattern, they link arms and delicately lean their bodies forward.

When the Hurka begins, the left leg goes across the right, and the left foot stamps the ground. On the second beat, the right foot is thrown slightly to the side, accompanied by a little jump and dip, before the performers end up back in their original standing pose, with their bodies swaying backwards. The third and fourth steps are assigned, respectively, to the left and right foot. As each step is taken, there is a light springing motion and a swaying of the neck and shoulders. This marks the end of one cycle.

When the circle is big enough, the Hurka players will dance within it, singing and playing the cymbals and flute simultaneously, filling the air with joy and excitement. Men and women dancers join together in singing, with the Hurka player leading the way-the women come after the men-the pace is consistent, neither too quick nor too slow.

Langvir Nritya

This is an acrobatic dance that is performed only by men. This dance requires a long bamboo pole to be held steady. The dancer-acrobat goes up the pole and then positions himself on the top while lying on his stomach. Musicians play the Dhol and Damana close to the pole as the dancer balances on top, performing other feats with his hands and feet. This dance is a well-known part of the Tehri Garhwal area.

Pandav Nritya

The Pandav Nritya, with its connection to the Mahabharata, has been especially well-liked in the Garhwal region. Pandavas Nritya is a performance which uses dance and music to tell the story of the Mahabharata. The performance of it usually takes place during the festivals of Dussehra and Diwali. The Pandavas Nritya dance is well-known in Chamoli district and Pauri Garhwal.

Ramola

The people of Kumaon are filled with joy when Spring comes. Bards, moving from location to location, talk about its beauty while playing a sarangi or dholak: “Oh my love, oh my beloved, Spring has secretly arrived. Let’s go quickly to the valley of flowers to play the Phag together.

People come together during the Holi festival, leaving their worries behind and engaging in a month-long celebration, singing hundreds of classical, semiclassical, and folk songs, accompanied by the Harmonium, Tabla, Dholak and Manzira (cymbals).

Shotiya Tribal Dances

The Bhotiya tribal has special dances, for example Dhurang and Dhuring, which are associated with death ceremonies. They believed that the soul of the deceased resided in the body of a goat or another creature, and they sought to free it. This dance is similar to the pastorals of Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dance of Nagaland.

Thali, Jadda and Jhainta

The Thali is a graceful dance only for women, while the Jadda and Jhainta are dances where males and females dance together with wild enthusiasm. The entire region has a colorful range of folk dancing. Even after a long day of labor, the Kumaonis have strength that allows them to dance. Dance and music are key elements of their life, helping to satisfy their emotional and social needs, with dancing keeping them feeling young and vibrant. The Kumaonis have proven this old saying correct.