Folk Dances from Uttaranchal

Chaufla

Chaufla is an interesting dance of the Garhwal region of Uttar Pradesh. It is not limited to a particular community. Men and women of any community living in the village may participate in the dance provided they know how to perform it. Men and women stand opposite each other. While dancing they clap their hands with that of the dancing partners. The steps are complex and the partners dance in a perfectly synchronized manner. The dancers sing particular songs while dancing. Instrumental music is not used with this dance.

Chholia

Chholia Dance Uttar Pradesh

The Chholia martial dance is prevalent in the Kumaon region of Uttar Pradesh. Although it is unmistakably a martial dance, now it is performed usually as part of marriage procession, especially of the Rajputs. They dance in pairs holding sword and shield. With complicated stepping the dancers perform a mock combat of attack and defense. It requires great skill and practice to perform the dance with proficiency. The dancers are all male, but when it is performed at the time of Kriji-Kumbh festival women also participate in the dance. Because, according to a legend the kingdom named Swarnagotra, of which this region was a part, was ruled only by women and the festival is held in remembrance of that golden era. Kirji is an extremely poisonous flower that blossoms once in twelve years. As soon as the flower blossoms villagers go in a procession to destroy the flower so that its pollen or petals do not make the water sources poisonous. The Chholia dance is performed as part of this procession. Drumming is the main accompanying music embellished with the sounding of Trurhi, the U-shaped trumpet and Ransingha, a kind of horn.

Jagar

In North India, Kumaon and Garhwal region has a variety of trance dances; the leading one is called Jagar. It is inspired by a local legend. The legend runs as follows : Once upon a time, there was a very beautiful Brahmin girl by the name Bhana Joshi. The prince of the kingdom fell in love with her. Both loved each other so deeply that ignoring the caste barrier the prince wanted to marry her. When none of them could be dissuaded to part with, they were killed.

This tragic love story has inspired the Jagar trance dance. It is danced both by men and women, A vocalist sings the ballad when the dancers depict the story by gestures. The dance culminates in invoking the spirits of Bhana and her love-prince. The dancers then go into a trance. Finally, a priest performs some rituals to send the spirits back to their heavenly abode to rest in peace.

Kanchani Nritya

Another variant of Jagar dance is called Kanchani Nritya. It is inspired by the legend of Ramola, a version of Krishna. This dance is performed by women only. The dancers wear colorful skirts and they take very fast pirouettes to convey a feeling of great ecstasy that puts them into a trance.

Sayna

The Janusar Bavar tribal community performs the Sayna dance at the time of Diwali festival. The dance is also performed on other festive occasions. Generally, the married girls come to their parental homes at the time of Diwali. They with their friends perform the dance. The dancers are all girls but the musicians are all men. The dancers sing while dancing and, at times, the songs are in the form of questions and answers. Towards the finale the dancers, some or all, spin large brass plates on the tip of the forefinger of their right hands. They wear their best dress for the dance.

Tharu

The Tharu tribal community, living mainly in the Nainital-Gorakhpur belt, has three major sub-clans, namely, Rana, Kathariya and Dangaura. The Kathariyas perform a dance that is called Tharu, named after the tiibe name. It begins eight days before the Holi festival and culminates on the day of the of Holi. Unmarried boys and girls participate in the dance with great enthusiasm. According to the custom of the Tharus, the bride does not go to her in-laws just after the marriage. She continues to stay with her patents. Such a girl may participate in the dance provided she has not become a mother as yet. The dancers sing joyously while dancing. Dhol, the barrel shaped drum, provides the percussion music for the dance. During the course of dance, the group is divided into two and often the dance movements of one group differs from that of the other, but both groups dance to the same rhythmic beats.

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