Folk Dances of Kumaon Region, Uttarakhand :

Folk dances of Kumaon region involve a lot of interesting tales. These dances are accompanied by various musical instruments. Couples sing and dance to the tune of the music.

 Folk dances of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand involve a lot of interesting tales. The art of dancing is as important as wearing clothes for the people of Uttarakhand. The people of the state believe that the only way to influence God is through dancing. There are various mythological stories that are associated with the dances of this sate. It is said that the dances owes their inspiration to the fascinating mystical dancing girls who lived on snow filled peaks and are variously interpreted as Kecharis, Paries and Ancheris. 

They are fairies or women who move in the firmament, young women of surpassing beauty, sumptuously clothed and supposed to belong to the court of Indira. These dancing girls, they are said to fly or float along the sky without any visible wings. Some people believe that they are actually the souls of young maidens who died without any funeral rites. They are Ravana's daughters who were offered to Lord Shiva as his hand rites. Some of the popular versions make them a part of Krishna folklore, making them into Gopis who dance the 'Dance Celestial' with their Lord. There are various types of folk dances of Kumaon that can be seen. Some of the dance forms dates back to thousand of centuries and some of which are performed to satisfy the gods and goddesses of the region. 

Jhora Dance :

Jhora dance is mainly performed to ensure peace between communities. Both men and women enthusiastically participate in this dance. Jhora is performed along with the music of various instruments. It is performed at the coming of spring, at fairs, and also to celebrate weddings. The dancers dance in a circle by holding each other’s arms. The dance is a beautiful amalgamation of various steps. 

Chancheri Dance :

This is a dance form which is quite similar to Jhora. It is a collective dance form of Kumaon which is danced by both female and male. Chancheri is danced in a semi circle in a very slow tempo but it follows the traditional group dance by unconfined joy. The Chancheri dance form is most famous in the Danpur Patti of Bageshwar District, lying north of the Pindari Glacier. 

Jagar Dance :

Jagar is a particular dance form which falls in the spiritual category of worship. This is typically a regional dance form of the state. The performances are based on 50 Ballads on local gods, goddesses and spirits, ghosts and fairies, the most famous being the Gorilla, Bholanath and Ganganath. The instruments used are a big drum (Dhol), a smaller drum (Damua), Hurka and Thall. 

Ramola Dance :

Ramola is a popular dance form in the state and is mainly performed as worship to Lord Krishna. It is celebrated during the festival of Holiwhere people come together to celebrate and the festivity lasts for more than a month. 

Choliya Dance :
Choliya dance is a Rajput dance form which is mainly performed during the marriage ceremonies. The dance is performed with sword and shield in pairs, the drummers are usually Harijans called Dholies, while the Turi and Ransing are played by Bairagis, Jogis or Gosains. 

Thali, Jadda and Jhainta are some other folk dances of the state that are performed with equal enthusiasm. The Thali dance form is actually very graceful and is performed by the womenfolk. The Jadda and Jhainta are dance form where women and men whirl together with a gay abandon. The region is actually a kaleidoscope of folk dancing. The Kumaonis with their power of patience can continue dancing even after a hectic day at work. Dancing is an integral part of the Kumaoni people. It satisfies their social and emotional needs and helps to keep them alive and fresh. The Kumaonis prove the old adage. "The tribe which dances does not die." 

Chhapeli Dance :

Chhapeli is a dance form of the Kumaon which is performed with lots of pomp and show. Couples dance to the tune of the music played by instruments. Chhapeli dance is not as complex as the classical dance forms but is something which is delightful to witness. In this dance form, the male plays the role of a lover and the female essays the role of his beloved. In the dance, the female dancer holds a colourful handkerchief in the right hand and a mirror in her left hand. The male has slung on his left shoulder a Hudukka, and playing on it, provides the rhythmic pattern for the drum. The mirror, which is the most interesting part, symbolises something mysterious or vague. The dance is performed to win over the listeners and it can sometimes be quite mesmerizing. The tone of the music is often bright, gay and brisk accompanied with instruments like hurka, manzira and flute. 

Hurka Baul Dance :

The Hurka Baul dance is performed during the cultivation of paddy and maize in the farms. On a fixed day, after performing the preliminary ritual, the dance is performed in different fields with different tunes. The dance is named according to the Hurka, which is the drum used for musical accompaniment in the performance of the dance and Baul is the song. 

The hurka is the only musical instrument used in the dance. In the Hurka Baul dance performance; the singer slowly & interestingly narrates the story of battles and heroic deeds. Generally, the performers enter from two opposite sides and enact the stories in a series having many crisp movements & attractive dancing styles. In this dance, the participants need to form two different rows and move backward to dance, while responding to the tunes of the song and the rhythm of the music. 

           Even the culture of the inhabitants of Uttarakhand is kept alive by their folk dances. The folk & tribal communities in Uttarakhand perform many seasonal dances They form a part of seasonal dances which are performed from 'Basant Panchami' to 'Sankranti' or 'Baisakhi'. The folk songs are composed for the appreciation of nature during various occasions. These folk songs all derive their names from the concerned folk dances, which are the seasonal dances performed to express joy & celebrate the arrival of new season.