Image default
Indian

Folk dances of East India: discovering the cultures of India

Similarly, like all the other parts of India, east India has a great history. All the folk dances hold a great history behind them. And they represent the specific cultures and the religion to the world as well. Some folk dances are known to hold a history of 700-800 years. Many myths are also linked with these dances.


Let’s have a look at some folk dances,

  • Gotipua: It is a special dance that linked in many areas of Odisha. It is performed in praise of Jagannath and Krishna. It is a unique folk dance as boys are dressed as women. The performers grow their hair like women too. The dance contains many acrobatic movements along with that human pyramid is also formed. Colorful dresses are worn by the boys with very bright makeup. The songs are also by the performers. While flute is also used.
  • Tiger dance or Bagh Naach: The folk dance is known to be evolved in areas of Odisha. It is performed during the holy months of Hindus called Chaitra. During the tiger dance, the bodies of the performers are painted like tigers. Drums and bells are used along with nature sounds. The performers represent the Bengal tigers.
  • Gambhira dance: It is performed in west Bengal. It is performed by the maldah people. The folk dance is performed to highlight the social problems of people. The performers act like two Hindu lord characters Shiva and Parvati. The songs are usually conversion between the characters.
  • Jhijhian Dance: It is performed in the regions of Bihar. The folk dance is performed by the women and they carry lanterns and pots on the head. It is performed on the festival of worship god Indra. As god Indra survived in the desert and helped himself to get off the condition. It is performed to give applause. Whenever the village is having a water shortage problem the women perform it to get out of the difficult time. The dance is performed on dholak and bansuri.

Here are some unique folk culture dances that only belong to India.

Leave a Comment