The famous folk dances of Northeast India

Apart from the exhilarating beauty of the hills and mountains, rivers and creeks, flora and fauna of Northeast India, the seven sisters give us a diverse platter of traditions and cultures which are very pleasant and delightful to experience. And what better way to experience the rich cultures and heritages of the northeast than discovering their folk dance forms. Northeast India is blessed to be home to numerous tribes and people from different ethnic groups which adds to the diversity which emerges innumerable dance forms. We have discussed some of the famous and wide known folk dances because discussing all of them would take years.

• Bardo Chham (Arunachal Pradesh)

Bardo Chham is a folk dance of a small tribe called the Sherdukpens of the West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh. It is an ancient dance form passed down as a tradition among the natives. It portrays the triumph of good over evil. The Sherdukpens are descendants of Tibeto-Burman origin and are one of the major fraternities of Arunachal Pradesh to follow Buddhism. 

Bardo Chham of Arunachal Pradesh (ImageSource)

The dance revolves around the belief that all activities of humans are overseen by gods and punished accordingly. The dance is very appealing to watch. The costumes used in the dance are very colourful but the centre of attention are the twelve animal masks which depicts twelve evil forces that appear before the Sherdukpens once every year. They wear the masks to mask themselves from these evil forces. The music that men and women dance to is played on a large drum with long sticks and cymbals.

The dance is popular in Buddhist monasteries not only in Arunachal Pradesh but also in other northeastern parts of India as well as in Bhutan.

• Bihu (Assam)

Anyone who has visited Assam has heard of Bihu. It is a significant part of the Assamese culture. The first official patronage to the dance form was given by Ahom king Rudra Singha wherein he invited Bihu dancers to perform at the Rangghar fields in 1694 on the occasion of Rongali Bihu. 

Bihu is a set of three important festivals of Assam. Bohag or Rongali Bihu is celebrated during April which marks the Hindu New Year and the beginning of sowing time. Kongali or Kaati Bihu is celebrated in the month of October. It is celebrated when there is a shortage of crops thus it is also called the festival of scarcity. Magh or Bhogali Bihu is celebrated in January when there is an abundance of crops thus it is also called the harvesting festival.

Bihu of Assam (ImageSource)

Bihu dance is associated with all the Bihu festivals. The dance is performed mainly by young groups of men and women generally the men surrounding the women in semi-circles. The men start by playing musical instruments like Dhol, Flute, Pepa(buffalo horn), Baahi, Gogona and percussions like Taal and Khol while the female dancers sing and dance. The songs they sing are called husori. The men wear Dhoti paired with Gamosa both embroidered in red, the women wear Mekhela paired with Riha made of Pat or Muga silk. a hair bun with foxtail orchids and a big red bindi completes the look. Both costumes of men and women are a contrast of beige and red. 

This northeastern India dance is an integral part of the Assamese culture and has gained prominence not only in India but also across the globe mainly because of its authenticity.

• Raas Leela (Manipur):

When the Gopis of Vrindavan heard Lord Krishna play his bansuri (flute) one night, they became enchanted and ran away to Lord Krishna to dance throughout the night, leaving their households unattended, this was called Raas Leela according to Hindu scriptures which also translates to 'Dance of Divine Love'. It is a popular theme in many dance forms like Odissi, Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Manipuri Raas Leela is one such dance. Manipuri Raas Leela tells the story of Radha, Krishna and Gopis and it is an important part of the Manipuri tradition and culture. It conveys the spiritual love of Krishna. It was started in 1779 by Rajarshi Bhagya Chandra, an 18th Century Meitei Monarch.

Raas Leela of Manipur (ImageSource) 

Five kinds of Raas Leela are practiced in Manipur namely Vasant Raas, Maha Raas, Nitya Raas, Kunja Raas and Diba Raas that make Manipuri Raas Leela unique. The native costume consists of a stiff skirt, light muslin garment on top, white veil on the head and traditional Manipuri jewellery. The movements of the dance are very graceful and majestic, the eyes are fixed to the tip of the fingers and the artists cannot look at the audience at any point in time. What makes the Manipuri Raas Leela beautiful and charming are the acute and complex steps which never hints any outward sign of lust or amorous play. 

• Shad suk Mynsiem (Meghalaya):

The natives of Meghalaya, the Khasi people are known for their love for nature. They express it in many ways and one of them is this famous folk dance. Celebrated in the month of April, Shad suk Mynsiem which literally translates into a dance for peace and mind is a dance with which the  Khasi folks express their gratitude to mother nature and seek blessings for good harvest. It is a three days festival which is mainly celebrated in the Khasi hills. The performers of the dance are both males and females but the females have to be unmarried(virgin) while the males have no such restrictions. 

Shad suk Mynsiem of Meghalaya (ImageSource) 

The male dancers begin by playing the instruments like drums flutes and cymbals in an outer circle, the females with their eyes downcast move their body elegantly forward and backward. The males on the other hand dance with swift and energetic movements dance to the drum beats. The dance which starts mid-day continues till sunset. The girls wear Ka Jingpim Shad which is a cloth draped from waist to ankle and a full sleeve blouse. They wear necklaces and other gold and silver ornaments. They also wear a silver crown with a flower called Tiewlasuban. The men wear a turban, a sleeveless jacket and a cloth draped from the waist to ankles. They carry a sword and a silver quiver with silver arrows. The festival's main purpose is to bring all the Khasi spread across Meghalaya together and celebrate the Shad suk Mynsiem with joy and harmony.

• Cheraw (Mizoram):

Cheraw is a very renowned folk dance of Mizoram which was recently featured in London in April 2019. The dance is very elegant to watch, it consists of four people holding and clapping the bamboos in a horizontal cross manner while the female dancers dance by stepping in and out of the bamboo blocks which is why it is also called the Bamboo dance. The women performers undergo a lot of practice to achieve a perfect sense of timing.

Cheraw of Mizoram (ImageSource)

Paunchei (red, green, black and white sarong), Kawrchei (red, green, black and white blouse) and Vakiria (headdress made of bamboo and decorated with bird feathers) are the costumes worn by the female performers which are generally in vibrant colours. There are no musical instruments used in this dance, rather music is created my clapping and thumping of bamboo staves and clapping of hands. Cheraw is the centre of attention for all festivals in Mizoram.

• War Dance (Nagaland):

War Dance of Nagaland (ImageSource)

The exotic land of Nagaland is famous for its scenic natural beauty and its reverenced connections with its primeval history. Their music and dance play a significant role in their history. Aphilakuwo or the Sumi Naga War Dance is an energetic folk dance that has its origins in purification rites which is performed mainly by men but women do participate in this dance. The men perform with a humming tune where they simulate war-like scenarios. It involves martial and athletic style and even a small error can prove to be fatal. Thus it takes immense practice to execute the entire act perfectly. The performers holler a loud war cry and sing Aghule, the war song. Not many instruments are used in this dance, they use drums for a synchronized melody while the men and women stomp their feet, holler chants and clap hands. They wear traditional headgear and use ornaments made of silver and iron plates as their props which resembles a warrior's gear in battle.

• Yak Chham (Sikkim):

Yak Chham of Sikkim (ImageSource)

Many tribes have co-existed in Sikkim in harmony and peace for a very long time. Every tribe and culture have their own traditions and culture, therefore have their own folk dance forms. The major ethnic groups of the state are the Nepalis, Lepchas and Bhutias. Yak Chham is one of the major dance forms of Sikkim. It is a traditional Tibetan dance form that honors Yaks as they are the lifeline of people living at such high altitudes. The roots of the dance come from Bumthang district of central Bhutan. The dance is generally performed by four male performers and through this dance, they portray the utility of Yaks at high altitudes. The dance is not fast-paced and moves in sync with trumpets and cymbals played by other members. The yak shaped costumes used in this dance have fur-like texture and the costume is completed with a Yak mask.

• Hojagiri (Tripura):

Hojagiri of Tripura (ImageSource)

Hojagiri is a folk dance performed by the Reang tribe of Tripura on the occasion of Laxmi Puja or the third day of Dusshera. The dance is performed in groups of four to six members, all women while the male members participate in singing the songs which are called Kham and Kshumu. The dance consists of balancing acts which include standing on earthen pots, rotating plates on fingers, balancing lamps and bottles on heads. The performers while balancing the lamps and bottles with their heads, move the lower half of their body. The women undergo years of extensive training for a perfect 30 minutes show. The performers depict the method of Jhum cultivation through their dance. The instruments used for the music are bamboo flutes, cymbals for percussion, and the khamb or drum. The costume that the performers wear is a long skirt which is generally black and a red blouse, the necklace they wear adds to the charm of their performance.

Dance is a major aspect in the lives of people living in India and Northeast India is no different. Here lies a melange of people from diverse cultures and traditions which has helped preserve many age-old dance forms. Let us know which dance forms you like and which other forms you want us to discuss next time.

Also, check out the breath taking places you can visit in Northeast India and its Seven Sisters States on this link: The Entrancing land of Northeast India