Dance in Uttaranchal

The vibrant culture of Uttaranchal have given rise to different dance art forms in the region. The people of the state share a special penchant for music and each and every celebration is marked with numerous folk songs and intricate dance forms. Among the popular dances of Uttaranchal mention needs to be made of Choliya dance which is believed to be a part 1000 years old.

Costumes of Uttaranchal Dances:

This particular dance of Uttaranchal was actually performed by Rajputs during weddings with swords and bucklers. The costumes of this dance comprised of Churidar Pyjama, one long Chola, belt round the waist along with pattis and a turban on the top. Furthermore, the faces of the dancers are decorated with beautiful sandalwood pastes, wonderful ornaments and large size ear rings. However, this dance form were played by 22 person, eight of whom are professional dancers, and the rest are trained musicians.

Since the local people worship nature, hence the folk dances of Garhwhal and Kumaon are inspired from the varied forms of natural beauty. Some of the widely popular folk dances of Uttaranchal are—the impressive Jhumeila dance and the Hurka Baul of Kumaon region. On the other hand, the Hurka Baul dance is performed the cultivation generally practiced in remote areas of the state. A look at the historical facts point out to the fact that the name 'Hurka', owes its origin to drum which is widely used along with 'baul', the song.

Folk lores of Uttaranchal:

In the Hurka Baul dance the song is sung in the form of narration where the performers enact the stories in the form of different stories. These songs are heart rendering and carry a religious and moral significance which can never be undermined. The other folk lores of Kumaon are—Ramola, Jagars, Thali, Jadda and Jhainta. These folklores are widely enjoyed by the local people especially after the Holi, Shivratri festivals.

And if you want to enjoy the interesting forms of dances of Uttaranchal, then you need to watch Langvir Nritya which is actually a type of acrobatic dance performed by men folk only with the help of bamboo pole. On the other hand, Pandav Nritya depicts varied acts from Mahabharata.