Indian folk dances, which typically consist of a few simple steps, are performed throughout the world to celebrate a new season, childbirth, weddings, festivals, and other social occasions. In some Indian folk dances, men and women perform separately; in others, they dance together. On most occasions, the dancers will sing accompanied by musicians. Most folk dances have intricately-designed costumes. Although a number of structured, ancient folk and tribal dances exist, many others are evolving.

Andhra Pradesh

The ''Sutradhari'' (సూత్రధారి) is the most important actor in a

Yakshagana Yakshagaana is a traditional theatre, developed in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Shimoga and western parts of Chikmagalur districts, in the state of Karnataka and in Kasaragod district in Kerala that combines dance, music, dialogue, ...

, and plays multiple characters. Yakshaganam evolved into

Harikatha ''Harikatha'' (Kannada: ಹರಿಕಥೆ : ''Harikathe''; Telugu: హరికథ : ''Harikatha;'' Marathi: हरीपाठ '': Haripatha'', ), also known as ''Harikatha Kaalakshepam'' in Telugu and Tamil (), is a form of Hindu traditiona ...

, and they are considered synonymous. Their dances are similar; one person plays from excerpts from

Palkuriki Somanatha Palkuriki Somanatha was one of the most noted Telugu language writers of the 12th or 13th century. He was also an accomplished writer in the Kannada and Sanskrit languages and penned several classics in those languages. He was a Lingayat a follo ...

, Srinatha, and others. Harikatha consists of ''samvaadam'' (సంవాదం; discussion), ''padyam'' (పద్యం; poetry), and ''daruvu'' (దరువు; rhythm). It typically begins with "భక్తజనులారా! వినండి హరికథ! వినగ వేడుక గలిగే" ("O devotees! Listen to this Harikatha and be delighted!") Those involved in ''Harikatha Kalakshepam'' (హరికథా కాలక్షేపం) are known as ''Harikatha Dasu'' (హరికథ దాసు) or ''Harikatha Bhagavatar'' (హరికథ భాగవతార్). In

Andhra Pradesh Andhra Pradesh (, abbr. AP) is a state in the south-eastern coastal region of India. It is the seventh-largest state by area covering an area of and tenth-most populous state with 49,386,799 inhabitants. It is bordered by Telangana to the ...

, the first Harikatha artist is believed to be have been Gokulapati Koormanathakavi (గోకులపాటి కూర్మనాథకవి) from the state's northern districts, who wrote and popularised the Mrityunjaya Vilaasam (మృత్యుంజయ విలాసం).

Arunachal Pradesh

(Rikhampada))/

Assam

Bihu Bihu is a set of three important Assamese festivals in the Indian state of Assam – 'Rongali' or 'Bohag Bihu' observed in April, 'Kongali' or 'Kati Bihu' observed in October, and 'Bhogali' or ' Magh Bihu' observed in January. The Rongali Bihu ...

* Bagurumba * Bhortal dance * Baidima * Goalini * Jhumur * Gumrag * Oja pali * Deodhani

Bihar

* Bidesiya is a form of dance-drama that is believed to have been created by

Bhikhari Thakur Bhikari Thakur (18 December 1887 – 10 July 1971) was an Indian Bhojpuri language poet, playwright, lyricist, actor, folk dancer, folk singer and social activist. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest writer in Bhojpuri language and ...

, a barber with a passion for drama. It deals with social issues and conflict between traditional and modern, rich and poor. *

Domkach Domkach or Damkach is a folk dance of Indian states of Bihar and Jharkhand. In Bihar, Domkach dance is performed in Mithila and Bhojpur regions. In Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With ...

is performed in the bridegroom's house by women during a marriage ceremony. * Phagua is a dance and also a type of folk song performed during

Holi Holi (), also known as the Festival of Colours, the Festival of Spring, and the Festival of Love,The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) p. 874 "Holi /'həʊli:/ noun a Hindu spring festival ...". is an ancient Hindu religious festival ...

. * Jat-Jatin is the most popular folk dance of

North Bihar North Bihar is a term used for the region of Bihar, India, which lies north of the Ganga river. Towns and cities # Naugachia is a sub division in Bhagalpur district. It is famous for Banana farming; and known as Kelanchal of Bihar. #Purnia ...

, especially in the

Mithila Mithila may refer to: Places * Mithilā, a synonym for the ancient Videha state ** Mithilā (ancient city), the ancient capital city of Videha * Mithila (region) Mithila (), also known as Tirhut, Tirabhukti and Mithilanchal is a geographical a ...

. It is performed by a man and a woman; the man is going far away to work. The dance reflects poverty and sorrow. *

Jhijhiya Jhijhiya (also called Jhijhari) is a cultural folk dance of Mithila and Bhojpura regions of India and Nepal. It is performed during the Dusshera festival, in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September/October). The dance is performed to offer devoti ...

is sung and danced during

Durga Puja Durga Puja ( bn, দুর্গা পূজা), also known as Durgotsava or Sharodotsava, is an annual Hindu festival originating in the Indian subcontinent which reveres and pays homage to the Hindu goddess Durga and is also celebrated ...

in the

region. Folks dance with an earthen pot with holes that have a lamp inside in their heads. It is invoked to ward off evil as well. * Jhumri is similar to Gujarat's Garba. *

Kajri Kajari is a folk song and dance genre of India. It is a Hindustani classical music genre, performed during the rainy season usually late June to September when lush greenery reappears and agricultural labor begins again. It is often used to de ...

is popular in Bihar's

Bhojpuri Bhojpuri (;Bhojpuri entry, Oxford Dictionaries
, Oxford U ...

-speaking region. It often describes a woman's longing for her lover as the black

monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

cloud hangs in the summer sky, and is sung during the rainy season. * Paiki evokes the infantry's agility, courage, and excitement. Danced on flat ground, it highlights the dancers' weapon-handling ability. *

Sohar Sohar ( ar, صُحَار, also Romanized as Suḥār) is the capital and largest city of the Al Batinah North Governorate in Oman. An ancient capital of the country that once served as an important Islamic port town, Suhar has also been credited ...

is sung and danced by women to celebrate the birth of a child.

Chhattisgarh

Raut Nacha is a traditional folk dance usually done by

Yadav Yadav refers to a grouping of traditionally non-elite, Quote: "The Yadavs were traditionally a low-to-middle-ranking cluster of pastoral-peasant castes that have become a significant political force in Uttar Pradesh (and other northern state ...

s, a caste which considers itself descendants of

Krishna Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one o ...

, as an expression of worship. Performed for Dev Udhni Ekadashi (the gods' awakening after a brief rest), it resembles Krishna's

raslila The rasalila (), also rendered the raslila or the ras dance, is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and the gopi ...

. Padwani Panthi Suwa dance is also folk dance.

Goa

Deknni Deknni (also spelled dekni, dekṇi, dekhṇi) is a semi classical Goan dance form. The plural of dekṇi in Konkani remains the same. Overview One of the earliest which may be dated around 1869 is ''Kuxttoba'' in which he is called "heir to In ...

* Dhalo *

Fugdi Fugdi is a Maharashtra and Goan folk dance performed by the women in the Konkan region during Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Vrata or towards the end of other dances like Dhalo.According to certain historical facts, this dan ...

in a Goan folk dance performed by the women in the

Konkan The Konkan ( kok, कोंकण) or Kokan () is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, running from Damaon in the north to Karwar in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau in the east. The hinterland ...

region during the Hindu religious festivals

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO 15919, ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay Murti, idols private ...

and

Vrata Vrata is a Sanskrit word that means "vow, resolve, devotion", and refers to pious observances such as fasting and pilgrimage ( Tirtha) found in Indian religions such as Jainism and Hinduism. It is typically accompanied with prayers seeking hea ...

or near the end of other dances, such as Dhalo. *

Khol The khol is a terracotta two-sided drum used in northern and eastern India for accompaniment with devotional music (''bhakti''). It is also known as a mridanga (<

Mussoll Samayi Nrutya

Gujarat

Folk dance Timli Performed by Adivasi children of Tejgadh tribe academy

* Dandiya Raas is an energetic, vibrant dance which originated in

Gujarat Gujarat (, ) is a state along the western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the fifth-largest Indian state by area, covering some ; and the ninth- ...

. Often called the "stick dance" because it uses polished sticks ''(dandiya)'', it represents a mock fight between the goddess

Durga Durga ( sa, दुर्गा, ) is a major Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of the mother goddess Mahadevi. She is associated with protection, strength, motherhood, destruction, and wars. Durga's legend centres around comb ...

and the demon king

Mahishasura Mahishasura is a bovine asura in Hinduism. He is depicted in literature to be a deceitful demon who pursued his evil ways by shape-shifting. Mahishasura was the son of Mahisi (Buffalo) and the great-grandson of Brahmarshi Kashyapa. He was ultim ...

. It is nicknamed "the sword dance" because the ''dandiya'' represent Durga's swords and are struck together. The combination of garba and raas has become popular at the collegiate level in the United States, and garba-raas competitions are increasing in number. Popular competitions include Dandia Dhamaka, Raas Chaos, Garba With Attitude, Dandia on Fire, and Maryland Masti. * Garba is customarily performed by both sexes, and sometimes includes the stick dance. With circular movements and rhythmic clapping, it is often performed during

Navratri Navaratri is an annual Hindu festival observed in the honour of the goddess Durga. It spans over nine nights (and ten days), first in the month of Chaitra (March/April of the Gregorian calendar), and again in the month of Sharada. It is ob ...

. Its name comes from ''garbha deep'', which means "light in the inner temple" or "lamp in a perforated earthen pot" (often used in the dance). *The Tippani dance originated in the Chorwad region of Saurashtra. Working women take a wooden rod (sometimes tipped with iron at one end) and beat the floor with it. *The Padhar dance is performed by the Padhar community.

Himachal Pradesh

Nati is the traditional dance of

Himachal Pradesh Himachal Pradesh (; ; "Snow-laden Mountain Province") is a state in the northern part of India. Situated in the Western Himalayas, it is one of the thirteen mountain states and is characterized by an extreme landscape featuring several peaks ...

's Sirmaur,

Kullu Kullu is a municipal council town that serves as the administrative headquarters of the Kullu district of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It is located on the banks of the Beas River in the Kullu Valley about north of the airport at Bh ...

and

Shimla district Shimla is a district in the state of Himachal Pradesh in northern India. Its headquarters is the state capital of Shimla. Neighbouring districts are Mandi and Kullu in the north, Kinnaur in the east, Uttarakhand in the southeast, Solan to the ...

s. The dance is listed in ''

Guinness World Records ''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a reference book published annually, listing world ...

'' as having "the greatest number of people attending and participating in a Nati dance lesson at a single venue".

Haryana

Dances in

Haryana Haryana (; ) is an Indian state located in the northern part of the country. It was carved out of the former state of East Punjab on 1 Nov 1966 on a linguistic basis. It is ranked 21st in terms of area, with less than 1.4% () of India's land ar ...

include:Sachchidananda'' Encyclopaedic Profile of Indian Tribes'' Volume 1 - 1996 817141298X p416. * Theatrical ** Saang: Pioneering artists were

Baje Bhagat Baje Bhagat (16 July 1898 – 26 February 1939) was an Indian litterateur, poet, ragni writer, saang artist and Haryanvi cultural show artist. Biography Bhagat was born on 16 July 1898 in Sisana Village of Sonipat District of the erstwhile ...

Dayachand Mayna Dayachand Mayna was a poet of Haryanvi language. He is one of the important poets and folklore artists Haryana had ever produced. He was born on 10 March 1915, in a Valmiki caste family in Mayna village of Rohtak district of Haryana (erstwhile ...

and Lakhmi Chand. ** Ragini * Devotional ** Chaupaiya (in verse) ** Raslila ** Ragini * Seasonal **

Gogaji Gogaji (also known as Goga, Jahar Veer Gogga, Gugga, Gugga Pir, Gugga Jaharpir, Gugga Chohan, Gugga Rana, Gugga Bir and Raja Mandlik) is a folk deity, worshipped in the northern states of India especially in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Hary ...

and

Gugga Gogaji (also known as Goga, Jahar Veer Gogga, Gugga, Gugga Pir, Gugga Jaharpir, Gugga Chohan, Gugga Rana, Gugga Bir and Raja Mandlik) is a folk deity, worshipped in the northern states of India especially in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Hary ...

** Phaag, **

Sawan Sāwaṇ or Sāuṇ ( pa, ਸਾਵਣ, ਸਾਉਣ, ) is the fifth month in the Nanakshahi calendar. Many Indian calendars started in different eras such as Shaka Calendar (national calendar of India) traditional Vikrama as well as the Nana ...

Teej Teej ( ne, तीज, Tīja, translit-std=ISO) is the generic name for a number of Hindu festivals that are celebrated by women and girls. and welcome the monsoon season and are celebrated primarily by girls and women, with singing, dancing, ...

* Legendary courage ** Kissa * Love and romance ** Been (including its variant Nāginī dance) * Ceremonial ** Dhamal dance ** Ghoomar **

Jhoomar ''Jhoomar'' is a Pakistani Urdu film directed by Syed Noor which was released across theaters in Pakistan on 2 November 2007. The movie has Saima and Moammar Rana in the lead roles. Plot The story revolves around Gulaab Bibi ( Saima), a vill ...

** Khoria dance ** Loor dance ** horia

Karnataka

* Veeragase is performed by women. Based on Hindu mythology, it is performed during festivals primarily during the Hindu months of

Shravana Shravana is the 22nd ''nakshatra'' (Devanagari नक्षत्र) or ''lunar mansion'' as used in Hindu astronomy, Hindu calendar and Hindu astrology. It belongs to the constellation Makara (Devanagari: मकर), a legendary sea creature r ...

and Karthika. * Hulivesha is performed by men in the coastal region. The dancers are painted like tigers and perform like angry tigers. * Kangilu, Mandal community spiritual dance. * Yakshgana, the state dance, has a number of forms which vary from region to region. *

Dollu Kunitha Dollu Kunitha ( Kannada:ಡೊಳ್ಳು ಕುಣಿತ), is a major popular drum dance of Karnataka. Background In all temples of Beereshwara, the major instrument Dollu is hung by means of a thick thread tied to hooks in the ceiling. Ev ...

is a drum dance. * Kolata *

Bharatnatyam Bharatanatyam () is a major form of Indian classical dance that originated in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the eight widely recognized Indian classical dance forms, and expresses South Indian religious themes and spiritual ideas, particularly of ...

is performed in the Mysuru region. *

Kamsale Kamsale ( kn, ಕಂಸಾಳೆ) is a unique folk art performed by the devotees of God Mahadeshwara. Kamsale is a brass made musical instrument. Its origin is traced to the Mythological period. Instrument and group Kamsale is a rhythm instr ...

, performed by devotees of Male Madeshwara on pilgrimages to the Biligiriranga Hills, is popular throughout the state. *

Lavani Lavani () is a genre of music popular in Maharashtra, India. Lavani is a combination of traditional song and dance, which particularly performed to the beats of ''Dholki'', a percussion instrument. Lavani is noted for its powerful rhythm. Lavan ...

is performed in the northern border regions. *

Buta Kola Būta Kōlā,/buːt̪ʌ/ is the local pronunciation while the standardised Kannada pronunciation is /bʱuːt̪ʌ koːlɑː/ also referred to as daiva kōlā or nēmā, is a ritual dance performance prevalent among the Hindus of Tulu Nadu and ...

(spirit worship) is usually practiced at night.

Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir region is blessed with natural and cultural beauty. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has many folk dances performed on different occasions. The main folk dance performed in the Jammu region are- Kud Dance, Chajja Dance, Crow Dance, Dogri Bhangra etc. Dumhal is a ceremonial dance performed by men of the Wattal tribe. Dancers wear long, colourful robes and tall, conical caps studded with beads and shells. They move in a procession, carrying a banner. The banner is buried and the men dance, forming a circle, accompanied by singing and a drum.

Jharkhand

Jhumar Jhumar or Jhoomar (also called Ghumbar in Sandalbar area) is a lively form of music and dance that originated in the Multan and Balochistan, also thrived in Sandalbar areas (Faisal abad, Jhang, Chiniot, Nankana Sahib, Toba Tek Singh district ...

is a popular dance, performed during the harvest season and its festival. * Mardani Jhumar, a Nagpuri dance, is primarily performed by men. * Janani Jhumar is a Nagpuri dance mainly performed by women. *

is a dance performed during a marriage ceremony by the bride and groom's family. *Fagua is performed during the festival of

. * Paiki is a nagpuri martial dance. *

Chhau dance Chhau dance, also spelled Chhou dance, is a semi classical Indian dance with martial and folk traditions. It is found in three styles named after the location where they are performed, i.e. the ''Purulia Chhau'' of West Bengal, the ''Seraikell ...

is a semi-classical Indian dance with folk traditions which originated in the eastern states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Odisha. It has three styles, named for the locations where they are performed: Purulia Chau in Bengal, Seraikella Chau in Jharkhand, and Mayurbhanj Chau in Odisha. * Firkal is a martial dance, performed in some parts of Jharkhand and Odisha.

Kerala

Duffmuttu Duffmuttu (also: Dubhmuttu) is an art form prevalent in the Malabar region of the states of Kerala and Karnataka in south India. It derives its name from the duff, a percussion instrument made of wood and ox skin. The word duff is of Arabic or ...

is performed by the Muslim community. Originated by the

Arabs The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, No ...

, it is accompanied by Arabic music. The name ''Duffmuttu'' is attributed to a drum known as a ''daff'' or ''tap''. *

Margamkali Margamkali (Malayalam:മാർഗ്ഗംകളി ) is an ancient Indian round dance of the St. Thomas Christians community- based in Kerala state, mainly practiced by the endogamous sub-sect known as the Knanaya or Southist Christians. The ...

is performed by the state's Syrian Christians, primarily by women during marriage ceremonies. *

Oppana Oppana ( ml, ഒപ്പന) is a popular form of social entertainment among the Mappila (Kerala Muslims) community of Kerala, South India, prevalent throughout Kerala, especially in Malabar. The Term Oppana is believed to be originated from the A ...

, another Muslim dance, is usually a bridal group dance performed the day before the wedding and is particularly popular on the

Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

. Young female relatives of the bride sing and dance around her, clapping their hands. *

Theyyam Theyyam (/ t̪eːjjəm/; romanised: ''teyyam'') are Hindu ritualistic dance forms practiced in northern Kerala and some parts of Karnataka. Theyyam is also known as Kaḷiyāṭṭaṁ or Tiṟa. Theyyam consists of traditions, rituals and c ...

is a form of ritual dance worship. ''Theyyam'' is derived from the Malayalam ''Daivam'' (god), and the dance is part of ritual, music, painting, sculpture, and literature. It is performed to worship the goddess Kali, often by men from the

scheduled castes and tribes The Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are officially designated groups of people and among the most disadvantaged socio-economic groups in India. The terms are recognized in the Constitution of India and the groups are design ...

who have inherited the right to perform it. * Thirayattam, performed in northern Kerala, is part of theatre, music, satire, face and body painting, masking, martial art, and ritual. It is performed in

South Malabar South Malabar refers to a geographical area of the southwestern coast of India covering some parts of the present-day Kerala. South Malabar covers the regions included in present-day Kozhikode taluk of Kozhikode district, the whole area of Malapp ...

's ''kaavukal'' (sacred groves) and village shrines. * Thitambu Nritham is primarily performed by the

Nambudiri The Nambudiri (), also transliterated as Nampoothiri, Nambūdiri, Namboodiri, Nampoothiri, and Nampūtiri, are a Malayali Brahmin caste, native to what is now the state of Kerala, India, where they constituted part of the traditional feudal e ...

s of northern Kerala. *

Ottan Thullal Ottan Thullal (or ''Ottamthullal'', Malayalam: ഓട്ടൻ തുള്ളൽ) is a recite-and-dance art-form of Kerala, India. It was introduced in the eighteenth century by Kunchan Nambiar, one of the Prachina Kavithrayam (three famous Mal ...

("to jump about playfully") emerged during the 18th century and is a solo performance combining dance and recitation of tales from the

Puranas Purana (; sa, , '; literally meaning "ancient, old"Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (1995 Edition), Article on Puranas, , page 915) is a vast genre of Indian literature about a wide range of topics, particularly about legends an ...

in verse. *

Padayani Padayani, also known Padeni (from the Malayalam word for military formations), is a traditional folk dance and a ritual art from the central portion of the Indian state of Kerala. A ceremonial dance involving masks, it is an ancient ritual pe ...

is a ritual theatre art form associated with Goddess temples in Kerala's Central Travancore region. The Padayani rituals are performed at night in the temple premises to appease Goddess Bhadrakali, whose fury has not abated since her victory over a mythical demon named Darikan. Each festival lasts seven to 28 days, depending on the number of villages participating and organizing it. In Malayalam, Padayani is composed of the words Pada and ani, which mean a group of soldiers and rows, respectively. It is believed that Padayani was performed by warriors trained in Kalaripayattu to frighten their enemies from the southern part of Travancore. As a result, this art form can be traced back to Kalaripayattu's rich martial art heritage.

Madhya Pradesh

* Grida dance - Performed when the

rabi crop Rabi crops or rabi harvest, also known as winter crops, are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in the spring in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The complimentary of the rabi crop is the kharif crop, which is grown after ...

s are in bloom, the dance continues from morning to evening by village groups. It has three phases: ** Sela – Slow, stiff foot movements ** Selalarki – The foot movements become faster. ** Selabhadoni – As the tempo accelerates, hands and legs move vigorously. * The Matki dance is performed in the

Malwa Malwa is a historical region of west-central India occupying a plateau of volcanic origin. Geologically, the Malwa Plateau generally refers to the volcanic upland north of the Vindhya Range. Politically and administratively, it is also synony ...

region, primarily for weddings. A veiled woman performs the dance with an earthen pot (''matki'') balanced on her head, sometimes joined by other women. Variations are the Aada and Khada Nach. *The Phulpati dance is performed by semi-rural, unmarried women in celebration of nature. * Tertali is a ritual dance performed by the Kamar tribe. It is generally performed by two or three veiled women who sit on the ground, sometimes with small swords clenched in their teeth and an ornamental pot on their heads.

Manjira The taal, manjira (also spelled manjīrā or manjeera), jalra, karatala, kartal or gini is a pair of clash cymbals, originating in the Indian subcontinent, which make high-pitched percussion sounds. In its simplest form, it consists of a pair ...

(small, metal cymbals) are tied to the bodyprimarily to the legsand the dancers rhythmically strike them with a hand-held cymbal, accompanied by drums and singing.

Maharashtra

* Pavri Nach (or Tarpha Nach) is a Kokna tribal dance performed in the hills of north-western

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

, accompanied by the tarpha or pavri: a wind instrument made from a dried gourd. *

is a combination of traditional song and dance which is performed to the

dholki The ''dholak'' is a two-headed hand drum, a folk percussion instrument. The instrument is about 45 cm in length and 27 cm in breadth and is widely used in '' qawwali'', ''kirtan'', ''lavani'' and '' bhangra''. The drum has two differe ...

drum. Noted for its powerful rhythm and eroticism, Lavani has contributed to the development of Marathi folk theatre. In Maharashtra and southern Madhya Pradesh, it is performed by women wearing nine-yard-long saris. The songs are sung at a quick tempo.

Nagaland

Chang Lo (also known as Sua Lua) is performed by the

Chang Naga Chang is a Naga ethnic group of Nagaland, India. It is one of the recognized Scheduled Tribes. The tribe was also known as Mazung in British India. Other Naga ethnic groups know the Changs by different names including ''Changhai'' ( Khiamniung ...

Nagaland Nagaland () is a landlocked state in the northeastern region of India. It is bordered by the Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh to the north, Assam to the west, Manipur to the south and the Sagaing Region of Myanmar to the east. Its capital cit ...

, originally to celebrate victory in war. It is presently a part of community celebrations, such as Poanglem, a three-day festival preceding the harvest. Costumes include the traditional Naga warrior and female finery.

Odisha

Laudi Khela

Laudi Khela, traditionally performed by young Gopal men during the Dola festival, has been waning in popularity.

Bagha Nacha

Bagha Nacha, a tiger dance, is performed during festivals. Male dancers paint their skin with yellow and black stripes, like a tiger, and attach a tail.

Ghumra

Ghumra dance, originally performed during wars to encourage soldiers, is accompanied by a drum and is popular in

Kalahandi district Kalahandi (locally pronounced ''Kalahani'') is a district of Odisha in India. Archaeological evidence of Stone Age and Iron Age human settlement has been recovered from the region. Asurgarh offered an advanced, well civilised, cultured and ur ...

Karma dance

The Sambalpuri karma dance is performed during the harvest festival of

Karma Karma (; sa, कर्म}, ; pi, kamma, italic=yes) in Sanskrit means an action, work, or deed, and its effect or consequences. In Indian religions, the term more specifically refers to a principle of cause and effect, often descriptivel ...

in the month of

Bhadra ''Bhadra''Feminine: sa, भद्रा, Bhadrā is a Sanskrit word meaning 'good', 'fortune' or 'auspicious'. It is also the name of many men, women and objects in Hindu mythology. Male Figures King of Chedi Bhadra was a king of Chedi Kingdom ...

Jhumar

is performed in northern and western Odisha during festivals and the harvest season.

Keisabadi

Keisabadi, performed by men, is based on the story of

Radha Radha ( sa, राधा, ), also called Radhika, is a Hindu goddess and the chief consort of the god Krishna. She is worshiped as the goddess of love, tenderness, compassion, and devotion. She is the avatar of goddess Lakshmi and is also de ...

and

and accompanied by singing in Sambalpuri.

Puducherry

Garadi, a well-known dance in

Puducherry Puducherry or Pondicherry may refer to: * Puducherry (union territory), a union territory of India ** Pondicherry, capital of the union territory of Puducherry ** Puducherry district, a district of the union territory of Puducherry ** Puducherry t ...

, is performed at festivals. Its origin is a product of mythology; when

Rama Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bei ...

(hero of the epic ''

Ramayana The ''Rāmāyana'' (; sa, रामायणम्, ) is a Sanskrit epic composed over a period of nearly a millennium, with scholars' estimates for the earliest stage of the text ranging from the 8th to 4th centuries BCE, and later stages ...

'') defeated

Ravana Ravana (; , , ) is a rakshasa king of the island of Lanka, and the chief antagonist of the Hindu epic ''Ramayana'' and its adaptations. In the ''Ramayana'', Ravana is described to be the eldest son of sage Vishrava and rakshasi Kaikesi. He ab ...

, the ''vanars'' (monkeys) danced to celebrate his victory. Garadi is usually performed for five to eight hours. Dancers wear ''vanar'' masks, carry sticks and wear ten chiming ''anjali'' (iron rings) as they dance, accompanied by singing and two large ''ramadolu'' drums.

Punjab

Bhangra

Bhangra is one of Punjab's most popular dances, and has become part of Asian culture. Originally associated with

Sikh Sikhs ( or ; pa, ਸਿੱਖ, ' ) are people who adhere to Sikhism (Sikhi), a monotheistic religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ...

farmers celebrating the harvest and accompanied by a

dhol Dhol ( IPA: ) can refer to any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily includes nor ...

, bhangra is now danced at any celebration with a variety of instruments; a number of regional variations exist.

Giddha

Giddha, danced by women in colourful costumes, is derived from ring dancing and includes the singing of

couplet A couplet is a pair of successive lines of metre in poetry. A couplet usually consists of two successive lines that rhyme and have the same metre. A couplet may be formal (closed) or run-on (open). In a formal (or closed) couplet, each of the t ...

s (known as bolliyan) in Punjabi. Malwai Giddha is danced by men in

Kikkli

Kikkli is performed by two colourfully-dressed girls who hold crossed hands and twirl each other in a circle (balancing their positions), accompanied by folk songs.

Rajasthan

GHOOMAR DANCE Ghoomar is a traditional women's dance in

Rajasthan Rajasthan (; lit. 'Land of Kings') is a state in northern India. It covers or 10.4 per cent of India's total geographical area. It is the largest Indian state by area and the seventh largest by population. It is on India's northwestern si ...

and

. It is performed by groups of women in swirling skirts, accompanied by men and women singing. The dance gets its name from ''ghoomna'', the spinning which displays the colourful, flowing ''ghaghara'' (the long Rajasthani skirt).

Kalbelia

The Kalbelia dance is performed by women in black, swirling skirts (as snakes), accompanied by male snake charmers playing beens and other instruments. The

Kalbelia The Kalbelia are a snake charming tribe from the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, India. The dance is an integral part of their culture and performed by men and women. Kalbelia tribe Kalbelias are followers of Sage Kanifnath, who drank a bowl of po ...

folk songs and dances were added to UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010.

Kachchhi Ghodi

The Kachchhi Ghodi dance is primarily performed in the

Shekhawati Shekhawati is a semi-arid historical region located in the northeast part of Rajasthan, India. The region was ruled by Shekhawat Rajputs. Shekhawati is located in North Rajasthan, comprising the districts of Jhunjhunu, parts of Sikar that lie ...

region of north-eastern

. The costumed horse and bandit dancers have mock fights while a singer narrates tales of local bandits. It is performed during weddings and other social occasions.

Sikkim

Maruni, also popular in

Nepal Nepal (; ne, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is mai ...

Darjeeling Darjeeling (, , ) is a town and municipality in the northernmost region of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located in the Eastern Himalayas, it has an average elevation of . To the west of Darjeeling lies the easternmost province of Nepal, ...

Assam Assam (; ) is a state in northeastern India, south of the eastern Himalayas along the Brahmaputra and Barak River valleys. Assam covers an area of . The state is bordered by Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh to the north; Nagaland and Manipur t ...

Bhutan Bhutan (; dz, འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul ), officially the Kingdom of Bhutan,), is a landlocked country in South Asia. It is situated in the Eastern Himalayas, between China in the north and India in the south. A mountainou ...

and

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John Wells explai ...

, is accompanied by musicians playing the Naumati Baja.

Tamil Nadu

Parai Attam or Thappattam

Parai Attam Parai Attam is a special type of dance in Tamil culture in which folks beat parai The parai is a traditional Tamil frame drum about 35 centimeters in diameter, used in the parai attam dance. It consists of a shallow ring of wood, covere ...

'' is a

Tamil Tamil may refer to: * Tamils, an ethnic group native to India and some other parts of Asia ** Sri Lankan Tamils, Tamil people native to Sri Lanka also called ilankai tamils **Tamil Malaysians, Tamil people native to Malaysia * Tamil language, na ...

dance which is accompanied by a parai drum.

Kummi

Kummi, one of

Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu (; , TN) is a state in southern India. It is the tenth largest Indian state by area and the sixth largest by population. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu is the home of the Tamil people, whose Tamil language ...

's oldest folk dances, is accompanied by hand-clapping rather than musical instruments. Women form a circle and dance; one sings, with the other dancers taking turns. A number of varieties exist. Kummi is danced at festivals and other special occasions.

Karakattam

Karakattam ''Karakaattam'' ( ta, கரகாட்டம் or "''karakam'' ( 'water pot') dance") is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman. The ancient Tamil epic says that this type of dance derived from B ...

is danced to praise

Mariamman Mariamman, often abbreviated to Amman, is a Hindu goddess of rain, predominantly venerated in the rural areas of South India. Her festivals are held during the late summer/early autumn season of Ādi throughout Tamil Nadu and the Deccan region, ...

, the Hindu rain goddess. Dancers balance pots of water on their heads. There are two types of Karakattam. Aatta Karagam is danced with decorated pots on the dancers' heads and symbolises joy and happiness; Sakthi Karagam is danced in temples to praise Mariamman. Drums, singing and pipe instruments accompany the dancers.

Mayilattam

Mayilattam, or the peacock dance, is performed by girls dressed as peacocks at village festivals. Similar dances are Kaalai Attam (bull dance), Karadi Attam (bear dance), and Aali Aattam (demon dance) which are performed in the villages during village get-togethers. Vedala Aattam is danced in a demon mask.

Snake dance

Snakes are viewed as protectors. The snake dance is performed by girls dressed in a costume designed like a snake-skin. The dancers move like a snake, making quick biting movements with their head and hands; raised hands, held together, resemble the head of a snake.

Oyilattam

Although Oyilattam (dance of beauty) was traditionally performed by men, women have also begun dancing. Participants wearing ankle bells dance in a row, with musical accompaniment; the row lengthens as dancers join in. Oyilattam is most popular in the southern districts and the

Kongu Nadu Kongu Nadu, also known by various names as Kongu Mandalam and Kongu belt, is a geographical region comprising present day parts of western Tamil Nadu, southeastern Karnataka and eastern Kerala. In the ancient Tamilakam, it was the seat of th ...

region, and the dance has a variety of styles.

Puliyattam

Puliyattam Puliyattam (means Tiger Dance) is an old folk art dance of Tamil Nadu. A highly exuberant and cultural festival, this dance form usually comprises a troupe of 6 performers aping the movements of the majestic, predatory tigers. Their bodies are ...

is a tiger dance in which young men paint their bodies and costume themselves as tigers, dancing to drums. The dancers sometimes pretend to capture a goat. A popular dance, Puliyattam is performed during temple festivals.

Poikal Kudirai Attam

Poikal attam is known as the false-leg dance. Dancers are attached to a dummy horse at the waist, with the dancer's two legs and their body prop resembling a rider on a horse. The dance illustrates stories from popular folklore.

Bommalattam

Bommalattams (puppet shows) are held in every village during festivals and fairs. Many kinds of puppets (such as cloth, wood, and leather), and they are manipulated with strings or wires. The puppeteers stand behind a screen, and the puppets are in front; the stories are from the puranas, epics, and folklore.

Theru Koothu

Theru Koothu is normally performed by men in an intersection during village festivals in the months of Panguni and Aadi. The performance consists of story-telling, dialogues, songs, and dance. Its stories are taken from the puranas, epics such as the ''Ramayana'' and the ''Mahabharata'', and local folklore. The play begins in the late evening, and lasts for several hours. Theru Koothu is popular in northern Tamil Nadu.

Telangana

Perini Shivatandavam or Perini Thandavam is an ancient dance form which has been recently revived.

Tripura

Hojagiri Hojagiri is a folk dance, performed in the state of Tripura, India by *Tripuri people The Tripuri (also known as Tripura, Tipra, Tiprasa, Twipra) are an ethnic group originating in the Indian state of Tripura. They are the inhabitants of th ...

is danced by the Tripuri reang(Bru) clan in

Tripura Tripura (, Bengali: ) is a state in Northeast India. The third-smallest state in the country, it covers ; and the seventh-least populous state with a population of 36.71 lakh ( 3.67 million). It is bordered by Assam and Mizoram to the ea ...

. Four to eight women dance acrobatically, while men provide most of the music; the women sing in chorus. The dancers twist and turn, sometimes dancing on an earthen pitcher or balancing a bottle on their heads with a lighted lamp on it. Sangraing Dance is dance by the Mog community clan in

. many boys and girls dance together and signging together.

Uttar Pradesh

The

Raslila The rasalila (), also rendered the raslila or the ras dance, is part of the traditional story of Krishna described in Hindu scriptures such as the Bhagavata Purana and literature such as the Gita Govinda, where he dances with Radha and the gop ...

, danced in

North India North India is a loosely defined region consisting of the northern part of India. The dominant geographical features of North India are the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayas, which demarcate the region from the Tibetan Plateau and Cen ...

(primarily

Uttar Pradesh Uttar Pradesh (; , 'Northern Province') is a state in northern India. With over 200 million inhabitants, it is the most populated state in India as well as the most populous country subdivision in the world. It was established in 195 ...

), is based on the life of

. Individuals and groups dance, accompanied by singing, chants and instruments. The audience claps and sings along, and the length of each performance varies.

West Bengal

Gambhira Gombhira (or gambhira or gamvira) is a type of song originating in the Bengal region in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent, what is today northeastern West Bengal, India and northwestern Bangladesh. In West Bengal (India), gombh ...

originated among the Hindu community of

Malda, West Bengal Malda or English Bazar is a city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the sixth largest city (urban agglomeration) in West Bengal. It is the headquarters of the Malda district as well as of the Malda division of West Bengal. It consists o ...

. After the

partition of India The Partition of British India in 1947 was the change of political borders and the division of other assets that accompanied the dissolution of the British Raj in South Asia and the creation of two independent dominions: India and Pakistan. T ...

Chapai Nawabganj District Chapainawabganj (Bengali: চাঁপাইনবাবগঞ্জ) is located in the north-western part of Bangladesh. It is a part of the Rajshahi Division, and was formerly a sub-division of Malda district. The north and west part of Chap ...

Rajshahi Rajshahi ( bn, রাজশাহী, ) is a metropolitan city and a major urban, commercial and educational centre of Bangladesh. It is also the administrative seat of the eponymous division and district. Located on the north bank of the P ...

became its centre. Gambhira has undergone many changes in terms of the theme and style of its presentation.

Muslims Muslims ( ar, المسلمون, , ) are people who adhere to Islam, a monotheistic religion belonging to the Abrahamic tradition. They consider the Quran, the foundational religious text of Islam, to be the verbatim word of the God of Abrah ...

also became custodians of the dance, which became an integral part of their culture. Gambhira's themes include contemporary social problems and human weakness. *

Bengal Bengal ( ; bn, বাংলা/বঙ্গ, translit=Bānglā/Bôngô, ) is a geopolitical, cultural and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal, predom ...

, especially in Rajshahi,

Murshidabad Murshidabad fa, مرشد آباد (, or ) is a historical city in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located on the eastern bank of the Bhagirathi River, a distributary of the Ganges. It forms part of the Murshidabad district. Durin ...

and

Malda district Malda district, also spelt Maldah or Maldaha (, , often ), is a district in West Bengal, India. It lies 347 km (215 miles) north of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal. Mango, jute and silk are the most notable products of this district. ...

and

Jharkhand Jharkhand (; ; ) is a state in eastern India. The state shares its border with the states of West Bengal to the east, Chhattisgarh to the west, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Bihar to the north and Odisha to the south. It has an area of . I ...

Rajmahal Rajmahal is a subdivisional town and a notified area in Rajmahal subdivision of the Sahebganj district in the Indian state of Jharkhand. It is situated at the banks of Ganges and was former capital of Bengal Subah under Mughal governor, Man Sin ...

hills. The song-and-dance performance is associated with the mid-April Gajan

Shiva Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; Help:IPA/Sanskrit, ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one o ...

festival. The largely-improvised performances, presented on an open stage late at night under lantern light, feature ribald humour and audience participation. Each Alkap group consists of ten to twelve performers led by a ''sorkar'' (master). It includes two or three young male ''chhokras'', one or two ''gayen'' (singers). * Domni, performed in

, begins with prayers. Its dances are known as ''nachari'' or ''lachari''. The plays are extracts from small events of everyday life, presented satirically. Due to social changes, domni is waning in popularity. *'' Dhunuchi nritya'' is danced during the

Dussehra Vijayadashami ( sa, विजयदशमी, Vijayadaśamī, translit-std=IAST), also known as Dussehra, Dasara or Dashain, is a major Hindu festival celebrated at the end of Navaratri every year. It is observed on the tenth day in the Hin ...

. Women and men wear traditional Bengali dress and dance with a mud pot filled with burnt coconut shavings in praise of

State Wise List Of Indian Folk Dance

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Indian Folk Dances, List Of Indian culture-related lists India dance-related lists