Varsha PandeyMost of the folk dances of Bihar are religious, in which gods and goddesses are invoked through dance and performed to the beat of folk songs and music.
Some of the prominent folk dances of Bihar include the following:
Jhijhiya
It is a major folk dance of Mithilanchal, Bihar.
According to the rural belief, this song is to save the people from the evil effects of the tantra mantra.
girls sing songs and invite their favorite God Brahma Baba to come and save the people from the bad effects of the witch Jogin.
Jhijhiya dance is based on the love affairs of King Chitrasen and his queen.
This dance is performed only by women.
It is a group dance
In this dance, rural women form a circle with their friends.
In the center of the circle, a woman who plays the role of the main dancer dances with a lit lamp and a pot with holes in her head.
Kajri Dance
Kajri is performed during the rainy season.
The popular melodious tune of Kajri Geet creates a pleasant feeling in the body.
and is heard from the beginning of the month of Shravan along with the rhythmic sound of rain.
Kathghorwa dance (folk dance of Bihar)
In this dance, the dancer ties a decorated horse made of wood and bamboo splinters to his waist.
The dancer dances by making attractive costumes.
Today, the practice of this dance is almost negligible.
Dance is during the auspicious occasion.
Jharni dance
Jharni dance is performed only by Muslim dancers on the occasion of Muharram.
Dance show sorrow.
The dancers use bamboo sticks split at one end.
They stand in a circular form and spin around, each dancer striking his partner’s stick.
The sound produced provides the rhythm for the dance.
In this song, the dancers also sing mourning songs and express their condolences through their acting.
Jat-Jatin
Jat-Jatin is the most popular folk dance of North Bihar, especially in the Mithila and Koshi regions.
It is performed by a pair of men and women.
Females take four steps forward and four steps backward.
Apart from poverty and misery, this dance also signifies sweet and gentle quarrels as well as some grievances between husband and wife.
It is for the monsoon celebration.
Jhumri (folk dance of Bihar)
Jhumri is a folk dance of Mithilanchal.
After the month of Ashwin comes Karthik with his clear skies.
On the full moon night of Kartik, village girls sing and dance to celebrate the turn of the season.
Launda dance (folk dance of Bihar)
Launda dance is by a boy in the form of a girl on marriage and other auspicious occasions.
They wear a colorful dresses like a girl.
This dance is prevalent in Bihar mainly in the Bhojpuri region.
The most prevalent of this dance is in the procession.
Pamaria Folk Dance (Folk-Dances of Bihar)
This dance is by men on the occasion of birth etc.
In this dance, male dancers wear ghaghra-choli, play dhol-major, sing folk songs, and dance.
Sohar Khelwana (folk dance of Bihar)
Sohar Khelwana is a dance by women to celebrate the birth of a child.
The arrival of a newborn in India is with traditional rituals.
The child receives blessings from family members, neighbors, and well-wishers.
Through Sohar songs, women compare the newborn to Lord Rama and Lord Krishna, popular Hindu deities who are the embodiment of virtue.
Kinnars are an integral part of the celebration of the birth of a child and participate in this dance.
Holi Dance (Jogida Dance)
Jogida dance is a famous folk dance of Bihar.
It is one of the most popular dances in Bihar.
Jogida dance is all over Bihar.
The dance is on Holi, one of the major festivals of India.
In this, rural boys and girls dance while singing Phag by applying colors to each other.
Most villagers do this dance in groups.
Chaita (folk dance of Bihar)
Chait songs, as the name suggests, are in the month of Chaitra, when flowers appear on mustard plants. Men sing these romantic songs.
Magahi Jhumar Dance (Folk-Dance of Bihar)
The Magahi Jhumar dance is usually a duet, where the male and female dancers play the roles of husband and wife.
They dance in unison expressing their wishes and aspirations.
The wife asks her husband for nice clothes and beautiful ornaments.
The husband promises to give her everything she wants.
This vibrant folk dance is to the accompaniment of melodious music.
Karma dance (folk dance of Bihar)
The traditional Karma dance gets its name from the Karma tree which is a symbol of luck and good fortune.
The dance begins with the planting of the tree, followed by circular formations around it.
In this group dance, there are usually as many males as female dancers.
The dancers dance to the beat of the drum and the clapping of the female folk.
The dancers place their hands on the waist of their neighbors and form semicircular lines.
Each line of dancers sings and dances in turn to the accompaniment of mandoor and timki.
The drums beat fast and loud and the dance ends on a pleasant note.
Natua (folk dance of Bihar)
Natua dance begins with an item called Natua Kachal.
In this duet performance, accompanying musical instruments include nagara, dhol, and shenai.
The costumes worn by the dancers are indigenous and attractive.
Videshiya Dance
Dance is on social evil like Dowry, and widow remarriage. etc.
It is Just like Drama.
Chahu dance
It is related to war.
As it is a war dance physical energy is more during dance.
Only Male dancers perform this dance.
Dobiya Dance
Dance is by dhobi tribes.
It is a dance of the Bhojpur area.
Both men and women perform this dance.
But it does not exist nowadays.
Vidhyapati Dance
It is performed in the Pudiya area of Bihar.
It is a group dance.
This dance is a tribute to the famous poet of Mithila Poet Vidyapati.
Kariya jhumar Dance
A head of female dancers leads this dance.
Females dance hold hands and dance in a circle.
Kholdin Dance
Dance is performed during the marriage or any auspicious occasion.
It is in front of guests only to entertain them.
Ponodiya dance
The dance is done by male dance during the birth of a child.
Paika Dance
