Folk dances of India
Indian Folk dances are simple dance of a region which are performed to express joy & happiness among their community. It is occasion specific, like arrival of monsoon, birth of child, local festivals, wedding & other festivals.Some dance are performed by men or some are women specific dances.
Here are a list of important Folk dances which will help you in UPSC civil services exam, State services exam, SSC & other government Exams.
For Classical Dances of India Click
List of Folk Dances of India
Jharkhand
- Chhau
- Paaika
- Domkach
- Lahasua
- Fagua
- Karma Naach – performed during Karam festival
Assam
pic credit: wikipedia Bihu Dance
- Bihu
- Bagurumba (performed by Bodo Tribe)
- Jhumair
Arunachal Pradesh
- Bardo Chham is a folk dance of Sherdukpens. This dance depicts the victory of good over evil.
- Ponung dance
- Yudhh Nritya
- Mukhota
Bihar
- Jat-Jatin – popular folk dance of North Bihar
- Bideshiya – deals with social issues & conflict between the traditional and modern, the rich and the poor
- Jhijhian – sung when there is no rain for a long time
- Domkach
Chhattisgarh
- Raut Nacha – dance is a close resemblance of Krishna’s Raas leela
- Gaadi
Madhya Pradesh
- Grida Dance
- Maanch – lyrical folk dance
- Phulpati dance – exclusively for semi rural unmarried girl
Odisha
- Odishi
- Goti pua
- Baagh Naach or Tiger Dance
- Dalkhai
- Dhap
- Ghumra
- Karma Naach
- Keisabadi
- Jhumair
Maharashtra
Laavni Dance
Goa
- Fugdi dance – performed by hindu women during Ganesh Chaturthi
- Deccani
- Mandi
Gujarat
- Dandiya Raas
- Garba
- Tippani dance
- Bhavai
Uttarakhand
Gadhwali Dance
Himachal Pradesh
- Nati – Listed in Guiness Book of World records as largest folk dance
- Charba dance – performed during celebration of dussehra festival.
- Chapeli (V. imp) – performed by a male and female accompanied with dance and song. It involves a lot of instruments.
- Danda Naav
Jammu and Kashmir
- Dumhal – performed by men of the Wattal tribe
- Rauf – a folk dance form which is mainly practiced by the women folk of the Kashmir valley
Haryana
- Jhumar
- Phag
- Daph
- Dhamal
- Loor
- Gugga
- Khor
- Gagor.
Punjab
- Bhangra
- Giddha – is a female folk dance from Punjab.
pic credit: wikipedia.org Kikkli Dance
- Kikkli – performed by two girls holding hands and twirling each other in circle and balancing their positions in circular motions.
Rajasthan
- Ghoomar
- Kalbelia
- Suisini (Important)
- kathputli dance
Sikkim
pic credit: flickr
Singhi Chham is a masked dance of Sikkim,depicting Snow Lion– cultural symbol of the state
Tamil Nadu
- Parai Attam or Thappattam
- Kummi
- Kolattam
- kavadi
Nagaland
Chang Lo or Chong dance
Mizoram
Cheraw dance – done by four people with holding pair of bamboo
Meghalaya
Baagla Dance
Uttar Pradesh
- Kajri
- Raasleela
- Jhauraa or Jhora
pic credit: wikipedia Nautanki
- Nautanki
- Charkula (in Brij Bhoomi )
Karnataka
Yakshgana
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