Jitia

The Oraon tribal community living in the highlands of Ranchi in Bihar perform Jitia dance towards the later part of autumn in the month of November. Dressed in traditional costumes of red, green, and yellow and wearing brass and silver ornaments, young boys and girls participate in the dance. At the beginning of the dance the boys make a bow-like semi-circular formation and the girls, with arms interlocked, form a circle round the musicians in the centre. The accompanying music is provided by Mandar; Nagara, Manjira, and Jhal. The boys form an outer circle. The dancers move backward and forward and at intervals sit down clapping their hands.