Page 6 - Oct-Dec 2011

EAST INVITES YOU Ghumura
Bihu Ghumura dance is depicted in the Konark

Sun Temple, which means that this dance
Though the origins of the Bihu
has a place in the medieval period.
dance of Assam is unknown, the
Ghumura was also used as a darbari
fi rst offi cial endorsement is cited
dance in the princely state of Kalahandi
to be when Ahom King Rudra
and played by the erstwhile Kalahandi
Singha invited Bihu dancers to
state during times of war. The expressions
perform at the Ranghar fi elds
and the movements of the artists make Illustration by: Simran Chawla,
sometimes around 1694 on the occasion of Rongali Bihu.
this dance a ‘Herioc Dance.’ Std. 12, DAV Public School,
Kajal Agrawal, Std. 9, Purunchandra Vidyaniketan, Kanpur Amritsar
Elina Banerjee, Std. 11, Army Public School, Delhi
Brita Raut Nacha
A traditional folk dance of Bengal, it is performed by women
Raut Nacha is a unique traditional folk dance festival of
to seek God’s blessings after their wishes for a child are
milkmen or Yadavas belonging to the Chattisgarh region. The
fulfi lled.
Yadavas are a caste of people who consider themselves to be
Snigdha Agarwal, Std. 8, The Heritage School, Kolkata
the direct descendents of Lord Krishna.
In Bengali culture, the Brita is more than a simple dance. In
M.V Nikhita, Std. 7, Little Angels School, Vishakapatnam
fact it is considered to be a prayer, full of thankfulness, from
the devotee to the almighty. The dance is also performed after Hozagiri
recovery from a life threatening crisis or a contagious disease.
Ankita Bhowal, Std. 6, Gokhale Memorial Girl’s School, Kolkata. In the Hozagiri of Tripura the movements of hands or even the
upper part of body is somewhat restricted. The movement
Dance of Nagaland from their waist down to their feet creates wonderful waves.

Standing on earthen pitchers with bottle on head and
Each Naga Tribe has their own dance, but they have one
lighted lamp on it, the dancers twist the lower part of the
common feature—all the folk dances of Nagaland require
body rhythmically.
using the legs while keeping the body in an upright position.
Lavanya, Std. 10, B.V.B.P.S, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
Kavya Chawla, Std. 6, DPS, Mathura Road, Delhi
Bidesia
Cherav
Bidesia is the most popular dance of Bihar. This dance is said
th
to have originated in the 20 Century. It is a folk theatre form The Cherav dance is a combination of rhythm and skill. Four
that is prevalent in the Bhojpuri-speaking regions of Bihar. people hold two pairs of long bamboos across one another
on the ground. As the bamboo sticks are clapped together
Dipanshu Kumar, Std. 5, Bridgeford School, Ranchi
the main dancers in traditional
attires weave patterns through
Chaiti Ghoda them in time to the rhythm.
Cherav is a major attraction
Chaiti Ghoda dance of Orrisa gets started by the full moon of
during all festive occasions in
Chaitra (as per the Hindu calendar) until Baisakh. According
Mizoram.
to a legends Lord Ram gifted a horse to the boatman who
Visweswar T, Std. 10, B.V.B.P.S,
helped him to cross river Saraju during his exile. It is from
Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
this time that the horse is worshipped. An important part of
the dance drama is acted through the horse character and,
hence, the name Ghoda dance.
Illustration by:
Subha Sandhan Das, Std. 11, DAV Public School, Bhubaneswar Shreehi Singh, Std. 10
Bridgeford School, Ranchi

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