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Dances and Music of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand Music

Although Uttarakhand is famous for its tourism, the local culture also plays a very important role. He has a rich and colorful culture. Each of the ethnic groups and subgroups present here each have their own model. Uttaranchal’s music refers to the songs of Kumoan and Garhwal. The music of this region also has its roots in nature. He talks about people’s way of life and their cultural heritage. It also refers to festivals, faith, cultural practices, folkloric stories, historical figures, the beauty of nature, and so on. The local instruments used are dholkis, daur thalis, bhankoras, masakbhajas, paintings, harmoniums, etc.

Bajuband:

Sung by the village women while performing their daily chores on the fields or at home this is a collection of folk songs expressing various different emotions like love, sorrow, happiness etc. The songs can also be sung during various festivals and other auspicious times.

Chhopati:

This is one of the most popular forms of song and music in Uttarakhand which is sung during celebrations, festivals, fairs, weddings etc. It is mostly sung by the people belonging to the regions of Rawain – Jaunpur in the district of Tehri Garhwal.

Jagar:

Finding its roots in the Sanskrit word ‘Jaga’ meaning to wake, these songs are practised by both Garhwali and Kumaoni groups of people in a ritual form for the spirits of their ancestors.

Fun Fact:The government of India has also recognised the importance of folk songs and music by awarding the only woman Jagar singer, Basanti Devi Bisht, Padma Shri award.

Basanti:

Basanti songs are primarily composed and sang to welcome the season change from winter to spring.

Mangal Geet / Gaali Mangal Geet:

Mangal Geet or the auspicious songs are composed with an aim of being sung at weddings or during sacred ceremonies. Gaali Mangal Geet is sang in the form of a poem. This mostly takes place in a Garhwali weddings and is also an essential part during this auspicious event.

Chhura:

These folk songs are sung by the shepherd folk of the hills who sing it in the form of an advice that is being given from the older generation to the younger generation which are based on their life experiences and feel that it may come in handy for them while grazing sheep and goats and their other cattle.

Khuded:

This folks song is centred around the Garhwal division and is sang to depict the sadness and the sufferings faced by a woman which is caused when she is separated from her husband. Songs in this category are cleverly formed which completes three aims at once like the season, poverty and the separation phase.

Dance on the folk tunes of Uttaranchal
Dance is a very important part of the life of the people of Uttarakhand. It’s part of the tradition and the rights of costumes to the music on which the dances are played last for centuries. Here, the dances are performed not only for the appreciation of the people but also to please the Gods. Local dance forms are not as complex as many other forms of traditional Indian dance, but they are interesting and enjoyable to watch.

Pandav Nritya:

The Pandava Nritya tells the tale of the five heroes of Hindu mythology, the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, from start to end. Through this ecstatic dance, the various stages of their life are portrayed, performed on the drum beats. It is believed that the energies of the five Pandavas enter the body of performing artists during the stage performance.

Bhotia Dance:

The Bhotiyas are an ancient tribe of Uttarakhand, and the namesake dance is performed by them is closely linked to their death rituals. It is a common belief among the Bhotiyas that the soul of the dead lives in the body of a sheep or goat after the human body dies. By performing the Bhotiya dance, the soul of the dead can be liberated from the animal’s body.

Choliya Dance:

Choliya dance is the sword dance, meant to depict the martial art traditions of the Kumaoni tribe. This dance form is as old as a thousand years, and it is performed during the local Rajput weddings.The dancers dress like the Kumaon warriors and engage in mock sword fights with duly synchronised twists and turns of the body.

Langvir Nritya:

This is one of the most popular dance forms here and is mainly performed in the Tehri Garhwal regions. This dance is primarily performed by the men of Uttarakhand and is done in an acrobatic form using a bamboo pole fixed in one place. The dancers climb up the pole and then balance himself with the help of his stomach on top.

Ramola:

This charming and traditional dance of this hill state is a well-preserved heritage of the Bard community. Originating in the Kumaon regions of the state this dance marks the holi season which is later on celebrated for a whole month.

Chhapeli:

This is one of the most colorful and fun-filled dance of courtship which is performed by men and women of Uttarakhand together. The actual concept of this dance was started with an aim of enhancing the bond between two people.

Jagar (Ritual)

This hill folk dance is categorized in the spiritual and ghost worship which is accompanied with a regional folk song. A ritualistic dance is also performed in the form of puja ritual folk songs and is sung with an aim of honoring various gods and goddesses.

Jhumela:

This dance form is performed to mark all the major as well as minor occasions, fairs and festivals like Guru Purnima, Baisakhi, Maker Sankranti, wedding processions etc. The message that is portrayed through this is the feeling of sadness that is experienced by newly married women who misses her happy moments that she had cherished before her marriage. .

Thali – Jadda – Jhainta:

Performed primarily by the women population of Uttarakhand this graceful dance takes place during the wedding ceremonies and is also later on joined by the men as well. This dance performance is a mark of happiness and joy among the people and welcomes positivity into any occasion where this dance takes place.

Jhoda / Chachari (Chanchari):

Jhoda and Chachri is combination of song and dance which is performed together within the communities. This song and dance is done by male as well as females in different groups. It is also related to its other names such as Jhadawa, Jhora, Jhawad etc.