FOLK DANCES

Classification:
1. Occupational
2. Seasonal
3. Martial
4. Devotional
5. Ritualistic
Numerous with local variations to various religions and cultures
Guided by songs that glorify nature
Express traditional occupation and devotion to the dieties
Bhangra (Punjab):
Most popular dance of Punjab
Musical instruments tabla, dhola, chimta and others
Weddings and social festivals

Giddha
Bhangra
Jhoomar
HARVEST
Garba (Gujarat):
Women folk enacted before the temples of the mother Goddess Amba
Rhythmic clapping + circular movement >> NAVARATRI and Holi
Derived from Garbha deep >> lamp inside an earthenware pot or the light whixh glows inside
the temple sanctum

Bhavai
Garba
Dandiya Raas
Tirpani
Gomph
@ GUJARAT

Direct Benefit
Transfer -- Govt
of Gujarat

Bihu (Assam):

Canoe dance - Surma

Regional festival of Bihu in Assam
valley
Brisk dance movements by men and women

Tabal Chongbi - Holi

Nong Krem - Khasi hills
Rakhal Leela
Khel Gopal
Baishaka Bihu
Nati
Ojapali

Costumes Traditional, Colourful Assamese garments

Chhau (Eastern India):

NTR gave NOC to

Bala Krishna to do
lion movie in
Assam

Martial dance form male dance with use of mask

West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand

3 styles: Seraikela (Jharkhand), Purulia (Bengal), Mayurbanj (Orissa) popular in Purulia district
of West Bengal
Derived from Chhaya shadow or mask
Depict themes from Ramayana, Mahabharatha and Puranas

Padayani (Kerala):
Regional temple festivals
Main centres Kottayam, Quilom, Pathanamthitta, Aleppey dts
Masks of various shapes

Kudiyattam
Kaliyattam
Kaikottikali (Onam)
Ottamtullal
Sari (harvest)
Tappatrikali (siva
worship)
Kerala 3k run
contest - my
SWOT
Gaur (M.P):
Bastar district
Marriages
Meaning ferocious bison

Dagla
Ghera
sold d &g shoes in
Madhya Pradesh

Call for the dance is given by sanding a bamboo trumpet or horn

Men and women
Costume (men) head dresses decorated with strings of cowrie shells and plumes of peacock
Costume (women) brass hillets and bead necklaces
Men with drums move in a circle >> create variety of dancing patterns
Incorporates movements of a bison

Jhoomar (Punjab):

Harvest season
Slomer and more rhythmic form of Bhangra
Content of songs love and emotion
Performed in a circle to the tune of songs

Kummi (TN):

Women
Temple festivals, pongal etc.
Women stands in a circle and dance while clapping their hands rhytmically
One of the women leads the song while others take up the refrain

Kolattam (stick
dance - girls)
Kavadiattam
(temple dance)
Kummi
Dummy

Therukoothu (TN):
Junctions of the village during village festivities
Men and Women

watched DK bose
movie 3 times

Majilattom (TN):
Artistic and religious form of dance performed in temples
Performer dances on a tall piece of wood attached to the end of his feet
Wears costumes from head to toe like a peacock with beak

Yakshagana (Karnataka):
Musical dance drama based on Ramayana and Mahabharatha which deals with themes of valour
and heroism
Mainly manifestation of God Vishnu
Imp footwork, hand gestures absent
Costumes red and yellow colours
Starts in the twilight hours with the beating of compositions on drums from upto an hour before
the actors get on stage
Depicts a story from Indian epics and puranas

Huttari
Suggari
(Kunitha)

eating maggi @
pizza hut,
bangalore
Bhavai (Gujarat):
Most colourful and skillful 7 pots folk dance

Dandiya Raas (Gujarat):

Simple and rhythmic dance performed by young people moving around in an imaginary circle to
the beat of Dandiya sticks that they carry in their hands

Tamasha (Maharashtra):
18th century form of entertainment
Name derived from Persian word spectacle
Patronized by Maratha rulers

Kutiyattam (Kerala):

katha & keerthan

Lavani & Lezim
Gafa, korku
Mauni, Thasadhar

watching GK corp
Tamil Movie in KL
university

Sanskrit theatre tradition of more than 2000 yrs closely follows the precepts of Natyashastra

Ottam Tullal:
Similar to Kathakali

 Also called as poor mans Kathakali

Solo dance with simplicity and humour

Kavadiyattam (TN):
Karagam temple dance

Dummy (TN):
Horse dance in temples

Rouf (J & K):

Performed by women at harvest

Hikat (J & K):

Expression of joy and love by guys and girls

Giddha (Punjab):
Women at harvest

Cham (Arunachal Pradesh):

Masked ritual dance

Ras Dances (Manipur):

Maha Ras, Nitya Ras, Vasanta Ras
Celebrates the season and depicts the life of Sri Krishna

Pung Cholam (Manipur):

Dance with drums
Palying the Mrudangam, the dancer executes amazing and energetic movements in unique
combination of dance and movement

Jatra (West Bengal):

15th century as a result of Bhakti movement in which the devotees of Krishna go in a procession
(Yatra or Jatra) to holy places singing and dancing

Baul (West Bengal):

Wandering ministrel of Sahajiya sect(Tantric sct of Bengal) hold week long festival during which
they sing and dance

kirtan - vishnu
worship

Charkula (Uttar Pradesh):

Veiled women balancing large multi-tiered circular wooden pyramids on their heads,
alight with 108 oil lamps, dance to the strains of 'rasiya' - songs of Lord Krishna.
Charkula is especially performed on the third day after Holi - the day which Radha was
born.

Bihar and
Jharkand:
Jatin
Jatra
Jadur
Jijhiya
Barlanga
Bakho
Karma
Kaduputhli
Natua
Chhau
Samo-Chakwa

Rajasthan:
Gangore (parvathi)
Ginad (before holi)
Gopka leela
Jhulan
Jhumar
Chakri-serpant
dance
Khyal
Susini
Dandiya raas