Folk dance forms

The essentials

Folk dances are performed by communities at festivals, harvests, weddings and rituals. Unlike classical forms, they are learnt informally and vary from village to village.

• Chhau (Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal): martial, vigorous dance; Purulia and Seraikela styles use masks, while the Mayurbhanj style does not.
• Bihu (Assam): spring festival dance with drums and pepa (hornpipe).
• Rauf (Kashmir): women dance in facing rows with small steps, especially at festivals.
• Padayani (Kerala): ritual dance at Bhagavati temples, with large painted masks (kolam) made from areca palm sheaths.
• Dollu Kunitha (Karnataka): vigorous drum dance with large drums slung from the neck.
• Dandiya (Gujarat): dancers strike decorated sticks in pairs, especially in Navaratri.
• Garba (Gujarat): circular dance around a lamp or image of the goddess during Navaratri.
• Ghoomar (Rajasthan): women twirl in flowing skirts (ghagra).
• Kalbelia (Rajasthan): dance of the Kalbelia community, traditionally snake charmers; swirling black skirts and sinuous movements.
• Bhangra (Punjab): energetic men's dance to the dhol, associated with harvest and Baisakhi; Giddha is the women's dance of Punjab, with clapping and folk verses (boliyan).
• Lavani (Maharashtra): fast rhythm on the dholki, performed by women in nine-yard sarees.
• Bamboo dance: in Mizoram called Cheraw; dancers step in and out of bamboo poles clapped together.

Key points

• Chhau, Kalbelia and Garba are inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.
• Many folk dances mark the agricultural year.

Exam tips

• Learn dance–state pairs; questions often give a description and ask for the dance.

Common mistakes

• Confusing Giddha (women) with Bhangra (men).
• Thinking all Chhau styles use masks.