Indian States and Their Folk Dances

Different states of India and their folk dances

India is a country of diverse cultures and traditions. Indian folk and tribal dances are really simple and it is common to see these dances in every festival or public event. Folk art is the general performance of a group or place of people. There are infinite types of forms and rhythms under Indian folk dances. Differences are found among them on the basis of religion, occupation and caste. The tribes of central and eastern India (Muria, Bhil, Gond, Juang and Santhal) dance on all occasions. There are different dances for the life cycle and the annual cycle of the seasons.

Dance is a part of daily life and religious rituals. Due to the changing lifestyles, the relevance of dance has reached beyond the specific occasions. Dances have acquired the status of artistic-dance. Every year on 26 January, Indian Republic Day is such an important occasion when dancers from all parts of the country come to Delhi to dance on the huge area of National Stadium and the 8 km long route of the parade. Classification of Indian folk dances is difficult, but in general they can be put into four categories.

• Occupational (such as plowing, sowing, fishing and hunting).
• Religious.
• Anushthanik (for liberation from the wrath of the goddess or demon-spirit by pleasing the Tantric rituals).
• Social (the kind that includes all of the above classes).

Famous social folk dances include Kolyacha (Dance of the Kolis). The original dance of the fishermen of the Konkan coast of western India, Kolyacha, depicts the gesture of sailing. Females wave handkerchiefs towards their male companions and males move with a swaying gait. On the occasion of marriage, young Kolis (fishermen) dance in the streets holding household utensils in their hands to welcome the newlyweds and as soon as the dance reaches the climax, the newlyweds also start dancing. Here is a list of different state and folk dances that will help you in your exams like UPSC, State PSC, SSC, Bank etc.

List of Indian State and Folk Dances: