Folk Dance - Jhumar

Jhumar is a popular harvest dance, performed by the tribal people of Jharkhand and Odisha. It has two variations – Janani Jhumar, performed by women and Mardana Jhumar, performed by men. It is a major attraction at many fairs and festivals.

Folk Dance - Jat-Jatin

Jat-Jatin is popular in the northern parts of Bihar, especially in the regions of Mithila. This dance form is unique in its representation of the tender love and quarrel of a married couple.

Folk dance- Alkap

Alkap is a rural dance-drama performance prevalent in the Rajmahal hills of Jharkhand and Rajshahi, Murshidabad and Malda regions of West Bengal. It is performed by troops of 10-12 dancers,

accompanied by one or two lead singers known as gayens. The troops perform popular folk lore and mythological stories, in which the dance is interspersed with comical sketches known as kap. The  dance is generally associated with the Gajan festival of Shiva.

Folk Dance - Paika

Paika is a martial folk dance performed in the southern parts of Odisha. Paika is a form of a long spear. The dancers are armed with wooden spears and shields and show off their skills and agility in infantry like formations. It has a martial art character. The word Paika signifies battle.

Folk Dance - Biraha

Biraha dance along with its variant, Bidesia, is a popular form of entertainment in rural Bihar. It is a portrayal of pain of the women, whose partners are away from home. However, this dance form is practised solely by males, who play the role of female characters as well.

 

Folk Dance - Gaur Maria

Gaur Maria is an important ritualistic dance form of the Bison Horn Maria tribes who live in the Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. The dance imitates the movements of a bison and is performed in group by both men and women.

Folk Dance - Matki

Matki is performed by the women of the Malwa region on the occasions of wedding and other festivities. It is mainly performed solo while balancing a number of earthen pots on the head. Aada and Khada Nach are popular variants of the Matki dance.

Folk Dance -Jawara

Jawara is the harvest dance popular in the Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh. The dance, which includes balancing a basket full of jawar on the head, is accompanied by a heavy instrumental.

Folk Dance - Dadra

It is the semi-classical form of dance popular in Uttar Pradesh, accompanied by the music of the same style. It was extremely popular among the courtesans of the Lucknow region.

Folk Dance - Raslila

Braj Raslila is a popular folk dance of the region of Uttar Pradesh, revolving around the adolescent love stories of Radha and Krishna.

Folk Dance - Bhangra

Bhangra is the highly energetic folk dance of Punjab. Accompanied by infectious and catchy drum beats, it is a popular form of celebration during festivities. Giddha is the female counterpart of the male Bhangra.

Folk Dance - Charba

It is the popular folk dance of Himachal Pradesh, performed during the Dussehra festivities. 

Folk Dance - Danda Jatra

The Danda Nata or the Danda Jatra is one of the oldest folk arts of India. Mainly popular in Odisha, it is a unique blend of dance, drama and music. While it mainly narrates stories and lore about Shiva, the theme is generally social harmony and brotherhood.

Folk Dance - Bihu

Bihu is the popular dance of Assam, performed in the group by both men and women. The dancers are dressed in colourful traditional dresses to celebrate the pomp and gaiety. The dance performance

includes group formations, rapid hand movements and brisk footsteps.

Folk Dance - Thang Ta

Thang Ta is the exclusive martial dance form of Manipur. Thang means sword and Ta means spear. The dance performance is a unique display of skill, creativity and agility in which the performers enact a mock fight sequence – leaping to attack and defend.

Folk Dance - Rangma

The Rangma is the war dance of the Nagas. Dressed in colourful costumes, jewellery and colourful headgears, the dancers enact mock war formations and traditions. 

Folk Dance - Singhi Chham

The Singhi Chham is a popular mask dance of Sikkim. The dancers are dressed in furry costumes, symbolising the snow lion and pay tribute to Khang-Chen Dzong Pa (Kanchenjunga peak).

Folk Dance - Kummi

Kummi is a popular folk dance in the region of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The dance is performed by the women, standing in a circular formation. A unique feature of the dance performance is the absence of any accompanying music. The beats are generated by the rhythmic clapping. The dance is generally performed during Pongal and other religious festivities. Kolattam and Pinnal Kolattam are close variants of this dance form.

 

Folk Dance - Mayilattam

Mayilattam is a folk dance of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in which young girls are dressed as peacocks, with colourful headgears, beaks and feathers. It is also known as peacock dance. Similar dances include Kaalai Attam (bull dance), Karadi Attam (bear dance), Aali Attam (demon dance), and Pampu Attam (snake dance).

Folk Dance - Burrakatha

Burrakatha or Jangam Katha is a form of dance narration from Andhra Pradesh, in which a single performer narrates stories from the Puranas.