Folk Dances of Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand

Folk Dances of Garhwal Region, Uttarakhand :

Uttarakhand is undoubtedly India's most beautiful canvas. The main attraction to this place is the unspoilt and unexploited beauty and the serene calmness of Uttarakhand. The green valleys and the snow clad peaks with wonderful panoramic view till the eyes can reach, is mesmerizing and spell binding as well. Uttarakhand has a wonderful cultural and traditional heritage that has been followed for centuries. The people of Uttaranchal are warm and smiling and trying to live through the harsh conditions of the weather. 

Folk dances of Garhwal depict the tradition and culture of the region. The dance forms are mainly accompanied with songs and dance.

Langvir Nritya :

This is a particular dance form which is a typical acrobatic dance and is performed only by men. This is a dance form where a long bamboo is fixed at a particular place. The acrobat dancer climbs to the top of the pole and then balances himself on his stomach perched on the top. Right under that pole there are band of musicians that play 'Damana' and 'Dhol' while the acrobat dancer performs at the top of the pole. He rotates on the top and performs with his hand and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal region. 

Barada Nati :

This is a dance that is famous in the region of Jaunsar Bhawar located in the Chakrata Tehsil area in the district of Dehradun. The Barada Nati is a folk dance form which is performed on the religious festivals and also in some of the social functions. This dance is performed by both boys and girls who dress up in traditional but colourful costumes. 

Pandav Nritya :

This dance form, Pandav Nritya, is associated with the story of Mahabharata and is particularly popular in Garhwal Division of the state of Uttarakhand. This dance is nothing but a straight narration of the episodes from the great epic Mahabharataaccompanied with dance and songs. This dance is mostly performed on occasion of 'Diwali' and 'Dussehra'. This dance form is very popular in the Pauri Garhwal and Chamoli District. 

Shotiya Dance :

This particular dance form is performed by the Shotiya Tribes. The forms of dance include 'Dhurang, and Dhuring'. These dance forms are mainly associated with the death of a person. This particular dance form is performed to ensure that the soul of a dead person is liberated, which have been believed to be living in the bodies of animals like goats, cows etc. The dance is similar to the pastorals of Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dance of Nagaland. 

Chhopati Dance :

Chhopati is a folk dance native to Uttaranchal and is performed predominantly in Tehri Garhwal District. Both men and women are involved in this dance, which forms an important event in any celebration. The male and female dancers in the Chhopati dance form rows by holding the back of the adjacent persons. Maintaining this formation, they perform a series of circular and semicircular movements. The most interesting part of this dance is the song sung during the performance. This song is themed around love and is sung in a dialogue form. A set of questions pertaining to love is asked, which is promptly replied with an appropriate answer.

  The main idea behind the Garhwali folk dance is the music and rhythm. The dancers here perform the art in a dynamic manner which is of course in tune with the music. There are various types of folk dances that can be seen in the Garhwal region. Each of the dance form has a unique style and possesses a typical charm. The dances are different for different folk songs.