features :
use of traditional instruments like chimta , narsingha
dances are collective , not solo showing unity and brotherhood
also dance involves both men and women together showing no gender divide
regional variation in same dance form over different area showing unique identity and rich culture
have spiritual significance bcoz done in religious festivals
are symbolic of changing season or as welcome of newness like welcoming spring
are manifestation of joy like celebrating harvest
there is symbolism involved like costumes and movements
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal Pradesh
The Demon (Rakshasa) Dance or ‘Chhamb’
General Features
- Region: Predominantly performed in the Kinnaur area.
- Performers: The sacred masked dance (locally called ‘Chhamb’) is performed only by the Lamas in monasteries before large crowds on festive occasions.
- Comparison: The dance movement is noted to be quite similar to the ‘Punjabi Bhangra’.
- Alternative Names: It is also known as the ‘Lama Devi dance’ or ‘Devil dance’ (due to the mask designs).
Performance Details
- Masks: Performed with ‘demon’ masks numbering three, five, seven, or nine.
- Design: Masks depict imaginative figures of monsters, dragons, beasts, devils, imps, spirits, and skeletons.
- Leadership: The group follows the footsteps of a leader known as ‘Ghure’.
Religious Significance & Beliefs
The dance is deeply rooted in “Tantrik Buddhism”. The demoniac figures are viewed as horrifying defenders of the religion.
- Afterlife Guide: One belief is that the masks give spectators an idea of the dreaded monsters the soul will encounter after quitting the earthly plane.
- Combating Spirits: Another belief is that Lamas wear these masks to combat malignant spirits.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal (Kinnaur & Mahasu)
The Kayang (Kinnaur District)
- Formation: Men and women form a semicircle with a musician in the centre.
- Duration: The dance can continue for hours.
Types of Kayang Dance:
- The Naga Kayang: Copies the movement of a snake.
- The Herki Kayang: Faster in tempo and danced to a romantic song.
- The Shuna Kayang: Combines both slow and fast movements.
The Bakayang (Kinnaur District)
- Formation: Two or three rows of dancers facing each other.
- Movement: Involves forward and backward steps.
- Performers: This dance is mostly performed by women.
The Banyangchu (Kinnaur District)
- Performers: Generally a male dance.
- Style: It is a free style dance performed on any selected tune.
- Music: Women sometimes provide vocal music from outside the dance circle.
The Jataru Kayang (Kinnaur District)
- Occasion: Generally performed at festivals.
- Nature: A group dance connected with songs sung at ceremonial moments.
The Chohara Dance (Kinnaur and Mahasu area)
- Region: Performed in both Kinnaur and the Mahasu area.
- Occasion: Performed at all important festivals.
- Performers: Both men and women participate in it.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal (Lahaul)
The Shand and Shabu Dances
General Features
- Region: Performed in the Lahaul area.
- Religious Nature: These are Buddhist dances performed in the memory of Buddha.
- Occasion: They are performed at set times linked to local religious festivals.
Definitions & Meaning
- ‘Shand’: Means “song of prayer for Buddha”.
- ‘Shabu’: This dance is performed at festivals and depicts the beliefs and feelings of the people in the area.
Performance Details
- New Year’s Eve: A specific dance is acted by the Lamas in the courtyard of the monastery.
- Audience: Villagers are allowed to witness the show.
- Significance: The villagers take it not merely as entertainment, but witness it with all religious passion.
Historical Context: The ‘Yellow Hats’ Sect
The monasteries where these dances are performed belong to the ‘Yellow Hats’ sect (Gelugpas).
- Founder: The sect was founded by Tsong-Kha-pa (1357-1419 A.D.).
- Belief: Tsong-Kha-pa is held by the Gelugpas (Yellow Hats) to be an emanation of Manjushri.
- Chief Protector: The chief protector of the sect is Vajra Bhairava, known in Tibetan as ‘Dorje Jik-Che’.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal
Lang-dar-ma (An Evil King Dance)
General Features
- Type: A well-known masked dance drama.
- Duration: The performance lasts for several hours.
- Theme: It features the re-enactment of the murder of the evil king Lang-dar-ma.
Related Dances (Pre-Buddhist Origin)
- The text notes two other dances of pre-Buddhist origin:
- The ‘BLACK HAT’ dance.
- The ‘RED TIGER’ dance.
Historical Context: The Story of King Ral-pa-cen and Lang-dar-ma
The dance is based on actual events recorded in the history of Tibet regarding the struggle between Buddhism and its opponents.
- King Ral-pa-cen (815-835 A.D.): A true Buddhist ruler who built many monasteries and propagated Indian Buddhism through art and literature.
- Lang-dar-ma: The elder brother of Ral-pa-cen. In 817 A.D., he severely attacked Buddhism and persecuted Buddhist monks.
- The Usurpation: King Ral-pa-cen was murdered by his opponents, and power was seized by the “evil king” Lang-dar-ma.
- The Assassination (836 A.D.): The persecution was put to an end when Lang-dar-ma was murdered by a Buddhist. This event is the central theme of the dance drama.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal
The Jhanjar Dance (Chamba Valley)
- Region: Chamba Valley.
- Performers: Both males and females participate.
- Occasion: Performed on every festive occasion.
- Style & Tempo: The dance begins very slowly but gradually rises to an exciting climax.
- Movement: In between the dance, groups interchange their positions.
The Japro Dance (Kinnaur)
- Region: Specifically the Hangrang Valley of Kinnaur.
- Performers: Performed by both male and female dancers.
- Occasion: Fairs and festivals.
Other Dances of Kinnaur Region
The text lists several other important dances performed in the Kinnaur region:
- Shon
- Gyukshon
- Katakapa
- Shabra
- Shumgyak
- Yando-Mando
- Rekshung
- Yulba
- Lushen
- Tali-lamo
- Tinger
- Laka-Kurchi-Cheja
- Mon-Shou
The Dodra Kawar Dance (Mahasu Area)
- Region: Mahasu area (specifically Dodra Kawar).
Cultural Note: In the Dodra Kawar dance, it is believed that both the people and the gods of Dodra Kawar dance together to the tune of the music.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances of Himachal
The Nati (Kullu, Sirmaur, Mandi, Shimla, and Chamba)
General Features
- Nature: Not a professional dance; it is open for people of all age groups.
- Style: It is likened to the classical Kathak dance.
- Variety: Embraces several dances like Dheeli, Dekhi, Feh, Bakholi, Kahika, Dahari, Lahauli, Chambiyali, Banthada, and Loodi.
- Regional Name: In Kullu, it is specifically known as ‘Siraj Nati’.
- Dance Type: It is a slow-moving dance of the ‘Lasya’ variety.
- Duration: Often lasts through three or four days and nights.
Definition of ‘Nati’
- The term ‘Nati’ collectively refers to:
- The vocal lyric
- The instrumental music
- The dancing steps
- The bodily movements attuned to rhythm
The Orchestra and Performance
The Formation: The dance starts with a few persons making a crescent form by joining hands crossed on the back of each other.
The Orchestra: Sitting in the centre, it generally consists of:
- Two dhols (barren shaped drums)
- Two Nagaras (bowl shaped drums)
- Two Karnals (long trumpets)
- One Shehnai
The Flow: Dancers move slowly at first but gain momentum with the rising crescendo of the music. Singing is done in groups (chorus lines by men followed by women, or dialogues between groups).
Types and Names
- Regional Names: Terms like ‘Kullu Nati’, ‘Bushahri Nati’, and ‘Mandi Nati’ are broad categories. Often, a troupe assumes the name of the place it comes from when visiting celebrations.
- Specific Types: There are types suggestive of typical physical gestures and formations, such as:
- Bazuband
- Ludi
- Phetighir
- Janujangh
- Famous Natis: Some very famous specific Natis include Lari (bride), Shawni, and Lilima.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances (Sirmaur & Border Areas)
The Jhoori, Gi, and Rasa Dances (Sirmaur)
These dances hold a special place in the cultural life of Sirmaur and adjoining areas. Major dances in this category include Jhoor, Thadair, Rasa, Gi, Nati, Swang, Tegi, Draudi, and Padua.
- The Gi Dance: This is a unique form danced to questions and answers delivered in a musical tone.
- The Thadair Dance: A martial-style dance.
- Dancers hold weapons aloft, such as bows, arrows, knives, or sticks.
- They yell as they move towards imaginary adversaries.
- Religious Dances: The ‘Dharvedi’ and ‘Drondi’ are specifically religious dances.
The ‘Swang Tegi’ Dance
This is a distinctive free dance performed during the Diwali festival. The key feature is that dancers use tiger masks carved out of wood.
The Burah Dance (Sirmaur District)
- Group Size: Performed by a group of ten to fifteen persons.
- Theme: The ballads sung during this dance are dedicated to:
- Heroic deeds in battles won in a bygone age.
- Dear ones lost in battle.
Dances of Areas Bordering Punjab
These dances are prominent in Kangra, Hamirpur, and Una districts.
- The Keekali:
- Performed by young girls.
- Danced playfully in twos.
- Action: Girls hold hands crosswise and rotate fast on their toes while singing songs.
- The Bhangra: A male dance popular in Kangra, Hamirpur, and Una.
- The Gidda: Also widely performed by ladies in these same districts.
HPAS Notes: Folk Dances & Drama of Himachal
The Kullu Valley Dances
- Collective Name: All dances in this region are collectively known as ‘Nati’.
- Specific Types: The dances consist of various types including:
- Kharait, Philli, Ludi, Banthda
- Basahri, Lahauli
- Ujagjama, Chandhgebrikar
- Nature of Performance:
- Primarily meant for amateurs.
- They generally have no audience in view; people dance exclusively for their own pleasure and satisfaction.
- Both men and women participate in all the dances mentioned above.
Folk Drama of Himachal Pradesh
- Season: Commonly performed during winter all over the Pradesh, when people have leisure after the hectic months of harvesting and sowing.
Regional Types of Folk Dramas
- Mandi Region: Banthara.
- Chamba: Jhanki and Hanter.
- Bilaspur, Solan, and Shimla Hills: Kariyala and Swang.
The Bura and Sih (Jubbal and Rohru Valleys)
This art form is specific to the Shimla Hills region.
- Definition: In local language, this is the name for ‘ballet and opera’.
- Significance: It has become the biggest source of entertainment and recreation for the local people.
- Oral Tradition: The tales performed are unwritten and are handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth.