Folk Dance of Uttarakhand

Uttarakhand, a state in northern India, has a rich cultural heritage and is home to several traditional dances. Some of the famous dances of Uttarakhand include:

All the dances are performed with traditional musical instruments and colorful costumes.

Langvir Nritya: This is a dance performed by men and is associated with the worship of Lord Shiva.
Barada Nati: This is a dance performed by women and is associated with the worship of Lord Krishna.
Choliya: This is a dance performed by both men and women and is associated with the worship of Lord Vishnu.
Khali: This is a dance performed by men and is associated with the worship of Lord Ganesha.
Jhumaila: This is a dance performed by women and is associated with the worship of the Mother Goddess.
Gharwali: This is a dance performed by both men and women and is typically performed during weddings and other celebrations.

Langvir Nritya / Dance of Uttarakhand

Langvir Nritya is a traditional dance of Uttarakhand, India, performed by men. It is associated with the worship of Lord Shiva, and is performed during the festival of Mahashivaratri, which celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The dancers dress in traditional attire, which includes a dhoti (a long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs) and a chola (a short upper garment) and they also adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The dancers also carry a trident, which is a symbol of Lord Shiva, and they also wear a headgear called “topor”.

The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by devotional songs and the sound of traditional instruments like the dhol (drum) and the shehnai (a woodwind instrument). The dance is characterized by energetic and powerful movements, which depict the stories and legends associated with Lord Shiva. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch.

Barada Nati – The Folk Dance

Barada Nati is a traditional dance of Uttarakhand, India, performed by women. The dance is associated with the worship of Lord Krishna and is performed during the festival of Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Krishna.

The dancers dress in traditional attire, which includes a ghagra (long skirt) and a choli (blouse) and they also adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by devotional songs and the sound of traditional instruments like the dhol (drum) and the bansuri (flute).

The dance is characterized by graceful and fluid movements, which depict the stories and legends associated with Lord Krishna. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch.

Choliya – The Famous Dance of Kumaon

Choliya is a Famous Folk dance of Kumoan Uttarakhand, India, performed by both men and women. It is associated with the worship of Lord Vishnu, and is performed during the festival of Janmashtami, which celebrates the birth of Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Lord Krishna.

The dancers dress in traditional attire, which includes a ghagra (long skirt) for women and dhoti-kurta (a long piece of cloth wrapped around the waist and legs with a long shirt) for men. They also adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by traditional songs and the sound of instruments like the dhol (drum) and the nagara (a pair of hand-held drums).

The dance is characterized by fast-paced, acrobatic and energetic movements, which depict the stories and legends associated with Lord Vishnu. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch. Choliya dance is popular in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state, India.

Khali

Khali is a traditional dance of Uttarakhand, India, performed by men. It is associated with the worship of Lord Ganesha, the Hindu god of wisdom and knowledge. It is performed during the festival of Ganesh Chaturthi, which celebrates the birth of Lord Ganesha.

The dancers dress in traditional attire and adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. They also carry a murti (idol) of Lord Ganesha on their heads and they also wear a headgear called “topor”. The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by devotional songs and the sound of traditional instruments like the dhol (drum) and the shehnai (a woodwind instrument).

The dance is characterized by energetic and powerful movements, which depict the stories and legends associated with Lord Ganesha. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch.

Jhumaila – The Folk Dance of Garhwal

Jhumaila is a Folk dance of Garhwal Uttarakhand, India, performed by women. It is associated with the worship of the Mother Goddess, and is performed during the festival of Navaratri, which celebrates the victory of good over evil.

The dancers dress in traditional attire, which includes a ghagra (long skirt) and a choli (blouse) and they also adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by traditional songs and the sound of instruments like the dhol (drum) and the nagara (a pair of hand-held drums).

The dance is characterized by fast-paced, acrobatic and energetic movements, which depict the stories and legends associated with the Mother Goddess. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch. Jhumaila dance is popular in the Jaunsar-Bhawar region of Uttarakhand state, India.

Gharwali

Gharwali is a Folk dance of Uttarakhand, India, performed by both men and women. It is typically performed during weddings and other celebrations, such as festivals and religious ceremonies.

The dance is characterized by lively and energetic movements, which depict the joy and celebration of the occasion. The dancers move in a circular formation, holding hands and swaying to the rhythm of the music. The dance is performed with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and is a visual treat to watch. It is a popular folk dance of the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand state, India. It is usually performed during weddings and other celebrations, and is characterized by lively and energetic movements.

Chhapeli dance of Uttarakhand

Chhapeli is a traditional dance of Uttarakhand, India, performed by women. It is a popular folk dance of the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand state, India. The dance is characterized by fast-paced, acrobatic and energetic movements, with the dancers performing a series of complex footwork and hand gestures.

The dancers dress in traditional attire, which includes a ghagra (long skirt) and a choli (blouse), and they also adorn themselves with traditional jewelry. The dance is performed in a group and is accompanied by traditional songs and the sound of instruments like the dhol (drum) and the nagara (a pair of hand-held drums).

The dance is performed during festivals and other celebrations and is a visual treat to watch. It is also known as Chhapeli dance or Chhapeli Nritya, in which a group of women perform this dance on different occasions such as festivals, fairs, and religious ceremonies. This dance is famous for its fast-paced and energetic movements, which the dancers perform with the help of complex footwork and hand gestures.