5 folk dances of Uttarakhand and the related legends

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5 folk dances of Uttarakhand and the related legends

Dancing runs in the very veins of the people of Garhwal and Kumaon of Uttarakhand. Like the residents of other states of India, the locals of Uttarakhand celebrate their joys and sorrows through dance. Ahead, know about the five popular dances of Uttarakhand and the stories behind them.

Pandav Nritya


The Pandava Nritya tells the tale of the five heroes of Hindu mythology, the Pandava brothers of Mahabharata, from start to end. Through this ecstatic dance, the various stages of their life are portrayed, performed on the drum beats. It is a 10 – 12 days dance-drama celebration performed between November to February every year. It is believed that the energies of the five Pandavas enter the body of performing artists during the stage performance. On the last day of Pandava Nritya, a grand feast is organised for the villagers.

Bhotia Dance


The Bhotiyas are an ancient tribe of Uttarakhand, and the namesake dance is performed by them is closely linked to their death rituals. It is a common belief among the Bhotiyas that the soul of the dead lives in the body of a sheep or goat after the human body dies. By performing the Bhotiya dance, the soul of the dead can be liberated from the animal’s body. Call it the dance of the dead!

Cholia Dance

Choliya dance is the sword dance, meant to depict the martial art traditions of the Kumaoni tribe. This dance form is as old as a thousand years, and it is performed during the local Rajput weddings. The Choliya dancers are equipped with swords and shields, regional brass instruments including
Turi and
Ransing, and percussion instruments like
dhol and
damaru etc.

The dancers dress like the Kumaon warriors and engage in mock sword fights with duly synchronised twists and turns of the body.

5 folk dances of Uttarakhand and the related legends

Jhora Dance


Jhora dance is a springtime celebration performed by the local people by moving around in circles. It is a highly popular dance in the Kumaon Himalayas. The USP of this dance is that it aims to break caste barriers, thus allowing both higher and lower caste people to perform it together. Besides springtime, this dance is also performed during weddings and local fairs.

Mukhota Dance


It is another interesting dance performed at a fair organised in the month of
Vaishakha. The fair starts from
Vaishakha Sankranti (the day when the Sun enters a new sign) and the worship of
Bhumiyal Devta. People offer ground rice preparations every day during this fest. Participants wear traditional clothing and masks that are made to resemble various deities and demons.

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