Odisha is Rich in Folk dances of Odisha and music which is a joy for all arts and culture lovers.
Folk dances of Odisha and music are a classical style of music that includes all the essential elements, such as rhythm and raga, Karnatic, and Hindustani music.
Odisha, a state in eastern India, has a rich cultural heritage that includes various forms of traditional dance.
One of the most famous folk dances of Odisha is the “Odissi” dance, which is not exactly a folk dance but a classical dance form.
However, it is essential to mention Odissi because it is closely associated with the cultural identity of the state.
So, The tradition of verses that were short in musical design.
There are the following dances which are the Folk dances of Odisha.
Folk dances of Odisha Contents
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- 01. Ravana Chhaya
- 02. Changu Dance
- 03. Dalkhai Dance
- 04. Ghumura dance
- 05. Dhap Dance
- 06. Chhau Dance
- 07. Chaiti Ghoda dance
- 08. Karma Naach
- 09. Gotipua
- 10. Bagha Nacha
- 11. Jodi Sankha
- 12. Ranapa dance
- 13. Mahari dance
- 14. Laudi Khela
Ravana Chhaya Folk dances of Odisha
Karma Naach is one of the popular Folk dances of the state of Odisha in India belongs to the Sambalpur district.
However, Karma word derived from Karam or Karma which means “destiny” or “fate”.
So, The word Karma comes from the Sambalpuri language.
Firstly, This dance starts in the month of Bhadrab on the 11th of the month.
Moreover, This Sambalpuri folk dance is known for the worship of Karam Devta or Karamsani Devi who are god or goddess of fate, these god and goddess is responsible for great and awful destiny.
Binjhal, Kharia, Kisan, and Kol are the tribes among them this Sambalpuri is famous in the following districts Balangir, Kalahandi, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, and Mayurbhanj.
But, Dance is famous in central and eastern India.
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal are the state where also Karma Naach by the various tribes.
Colorful costumes are also used to perform this dance.
apart from the red cloth peacock feathers, small conch shells designed ornaments make this dance very unique.
In the same vein, Enhance the experience of the dance.
Gotipua dance Folk dances of Odisha

Raghurajpur in Odisha is a mythological village also known for its Gotipua dance.
The meaning of Gotipua in Odia is “single boy”.
Odissi’s dance form originally came from this dance.
Gotipua is a Folk dance of Odisa that comes with hight high degrees of technique and presentation.
Dance is mainly performed by young boys aged between 6 to 14 years who dress up like girls and wear beautiful sarees and ornaments.
Gotipua dance is a traditional and indigenous dance form from the state of Odisha in eastern India.
The word “Gotipua” can be roughly translated to “single boy” in the local Odia language, and the dance form involves young boys dressing up as girls to perform dance routines.
Gotipua dance is a precursor to the classical Odissi dance and has its origins in the temple traditions of Odisha.
More about Gotipua-Folk dances of Odisha
The boys begin to memorize the dance at an early age until puberty when their androgynous see is fading.
This dance is mainly performed by a group of young boys from older times in the Odisha state in India to praise Lord Jagannath and Krishna dance.
The young male dancers, known as Gotipuas, don elaborate female attire, complete with sarees, jewelry, and makeup.
They mimic the appearance of female dancers and deities.
Mardala is the main musical instrument, a head drum which is also used to perform the Gotipua dance.
However, This musical instrument is used to perform classical music in the state of Odisha.
From these instruments, the Harmonium, Violine, and Bansuri are other instruments that are used in the Gotipua dance.
Dancers wear designed ornaments such as beaded jewelry necklaces, bracelets, armbands, ear ornaments, and dresses which are used while dancing in Kanchula.
Gotipua dancers often perform episodes from Hindu mythology and other stories through their dance movements.
These narratives are an essential part of the performance and are conveyed through gestures and expressions
Gotipua dance plays a significant role in preserving the cultural and artistic heritage of Odisha.
Over the years, many Gotipua dancers transitioned into classical Odissi dance, which is more widely recognized as a classical dance form.
However, the Gotipua dance continues to hold a special place in the cultural landscape of the region and is appreciated for its unique blend of dance, music, and storytelling.
Bagha Nacha Folk dances of Odisha

Bagha Nacha is very famous in the Eastern Coastal State of Odisha in India.
However, To perform this dance artists go through training routines for years to learn this dance form.
In this dance, artists perform unique acrobatic stunts to match dance action with a tiger.
Bagha Nacha is a dance of the state of Odisha famous in the following districts Binka, Sonepur of Subarnapur district, Brahmapur, and also in Ganjam district.
Dance perform during the Chaitra of the year.
This dance is also known as the Tiger dance.
Because male dancer paints their body with yellow and black stripes like tiger skins and also attach a tail to their back.
Drums and bells are the main musical instruments.
The dancer makes sounds like murmuring which sounds very comparative to the stealthy creature like a tiger.
One needs to have thorough honing to perform the stunts with suitable synchronizing with the melodic instruments played amid the exhibitions.
Now a day Bagha Nacha is getting popular in Odisha state and training is given in the various music school of Odisha.
Jodi Sankha-Folk dances of Odisha
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Jodi Sankha means “double conch” which shows classical rural music with the help of dance.
This dance is the famous dance of Odisha state in the Ganjam district.
Dancers wear colorful clothes and dance to the music by blowing a conch.
To perform this dance artists do hard practice for many years and by performing this dance artist shows their lung power.
Jodi Sankha dance has national and international value and is heavily in demand at the time of the election season.
In this dance, artists wear colorful dresses such as dhoti, kurtas, and turban, etc.
To perform the Jodi Sankha dance mainly required musical instrument is Sankha or “Conch”.
While doing performances with colorful dresses artists constantly take alongside two coaches related to each other.
Ranapa dance-Folk dances of Odisha

One of the popular folk dances of Odisha is the Ranapa dance. This dance form is mainly famous in the southern part of the state.
To perform this dance stilts are used in which the dancer stands and performs a dance.
This dance is based on Lord Krishna’s childhood stories. the story shows the childhood acts of Lord Krishna.
mainly popular in coastal areas of the Ganjam district of Odisha.
fabulous stunts are done using these stilts.
The dance steps mainly represent the skills of martial art. this dance form shows the spirit and joy of mankind.
“Dhol” and “Mahuri” are the other musical instruments for the dance.
Mahari dance-Folk dances of Odisha

It is one of the oldest dance forms of the Indian state Odisha.
Mahari is a dance from the eastern Indian state of Odisha.
This dance form of mainly used to perform in the temple of Lord Jagannatha at Puri by devadasi dancers known as Maharis.
But now performed on stage at many venues.
Mahari dance, one of the vital dance forms of Odisha, gave birth to the present-day famous classical dance form Odissi.
However, Devadasi dancers perform this dance called maharis.
The Maharis has also been among the foremost exponents of both traditional Odia dances.
Laudi Khela dance-Folk dances of Odisha

Gauda Nacha or laudi khela.
This dance is also famous in the coastal districts of Odisha like Puri, Khurda, Bhadrak, Baleswar, Dhenkanal, Angul, Cuttack, Jajapur, and Jagatsinghpur.
But, The cast of Gopal or Yadav performed this dance on the occasion of the Holi festival.
Most people of Gopal or Yadav consider Lord Krishna as their caste.
Dancers use clothes and peacock feathers like Lord Krishna to perform this dance.
Ghumara-Folk dances of Odisha

It is a folk dance in the Kalahandi district of Orissa.
The dressing style in the dance appears to be of tribal origin.
The hand movements and steps resemble the forms.
Basically considered as a folk dance, all the elements of a classical dance exist in Ghumara dance.
hand and body movements and drama or the moods expressed through facial expression, movement, music, and songs, beat, and rhythm.
It is a group dance in many formations.
There is Circular Dance where the performers form a circle, there can be other shapes to the formation such as semi-circular, triangular, square, or rectangular.
The dance can depict many events such as sheep fighting dance or hen fighting dance.
The Cross dance and Square dance forms of Ghumara Sanchar are very popular.
It is a popular group dance at many international events.
Ghumara Sanchar has an interesting mixture of dance, music, and drama to keep the audience riveted.
This dance is presented in India at important national and international events held in Delhi, Moscow, and other places.
Ghumura dance is not only a form of entertainment but also a means of celebrating and preserving the cultural heritage of the Kalahandi district.
Its rhythmic and captivating performances, coupled with the distinctive sound of the Ghumura drum, make it a significant and unique folk dance form in the state of Odisha
Paika Folk dances of Odisha
Paika dance is a famous dance form of Orissa.
Perform by the paikas of the Oriya army.
The main target of this dance is to enhance physical excitement and to develop inner courage.
The tradition of this dance is throughout the huge area of the tribal belt of the Mayurbhanj district.
However, this is a group dance.
Men as warriors appear for the performance, in their colorful turbans and tight dhotis and stand in two rows.
Holding the wooden swords and shields in their hands, warriors engage in fierce mock combat.
During the festival of Dussehra, all the Akhadas celebrate their annual festivals.
Display traditional gymnastics, and acrobatics during the various village-group competitive performances.
Moreover, each group participates with great enthusiasm on such occasions.
This dance accompanies the music of Narsingha, shehnai, Bheir, and the Dhak and Nagara drums.
Kela-Keluni
Conclusion
The associated art of dance and music is more popularly known as Panchama Veda.
However, play with success in Odisha (Orissa) from a very ancient time.
The rhythms, bhangis, and postures used in dance have their own distinctive styles.
Above all this dance performance with the theme of the infinite love of Lord Krishna and Radha.
Source of Article
- https://en.wikipedia.org
- https://www.swadesi.com/
- https://al-kindipublisher.com
- https://web.archive.org
- http://www.holidaylandmark.com
- https://en.wikipedia.org
- http://www.gotipua.com
- https://odishanewsinsight.com
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