Tribal Dances of Bastar

Some of the forms of tribal dance are Panthi, Pandwani, Rawat Nacha, Soowa Nacha and Karma. Musical instruments also play an important role in their dance and music. Mandar drum and the Jhanjh are two folk instruments. Panthi and Padwani (a folk ballad) forms of dance are practiced by tribes of the Durg district. Padwani is a form of musical recital. Depending on the story, the leading character takes centre stage. Vedamati and Kapalik are two forms of style to present the Padwani dance. In Vedamati form, a narrator narrates while in Kapalik form, scenes from the selected story are enacted. During festivals and special occasions, the Stananmi community sing and dance before their idol Jaitkham. The Yaduvanshis (clan of Yadu) practise the Rawat Nacha form of dance. In this form, the performance is in praise of Lord Krishna, on Dev Uthani Ekadashi, the eleventh day after Diwali.

Another famous form of theatre is Nacha. Popular as the Parrot Dance, the womenfolk dance circling a parrot placed in the middle. One can witness this dance in Bilaspur during the Rawat Nach Mahotsav folk dance festival. The tribes of Gonds, Baigas and Oraons practice the Karma form of dance. In this form of dance, men and women dance following the lead of a singer. With the end of rainy season and the beginning of spring season, the tribals practice this dance. The humorous skits of Nacha incorporate issues of social awareness. Thus Chhattisgarh is blessed with many indigenous performing arts of unique dance style, melodious folk songs and colorful dance dramas. A visit to this beautiful place will only be complete when one can also experience the uniqueness of the region.

Kaksar is a dance performed by the Abujhmarias of Bastar named after their deity before the onset of the rainy season to seek the blessings for rich harvest. It also provides an occasion for the young men and women of the tribe to choose their life partners. Boys clad in long white robes and girls dressed in their finery dance together.

The most prominent performing arts in Chhattisgarh is Chandaini Gonda which is performed in the district of Dantewada. Representing the rich cultural heritage and tradition of the region, Chhattisgarh is famous for its unique performing arts that have captured the imagination of the world. Endowed with a rich cultural history, Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh boasts of its unique folk traditions that are reflected through various dance forms, folk songs and folk dramas.

Sonha Bihan represents the rich cultural heritage of the bygone days. Dressed in colourful attire, the performers of Sonha Bihan enact the role of several mythological characters through their beautiful dance styles and positions. Sonha Bihan portrays the rich folk culture of the region that has percolated to the modern era through the various performing arts of the region. The beautiful folk dance drama of Lorik Chanda of the Durg district portrays the unique folk traditions and the rich historical ancestry of the state. Blessed with rich cultural legacies, the district of Durg boasts of varied and unique folk traditions that are reflected in the numerous folk dances, melodious folk songs and expressive folk dramas.

Gammatiha is a well known dance drama of Chhattisgarh that reflects the traditional folk culture of the region. Gammatiha epitomises the rich cultural heritage and traditional antecedents of region. Based on folklores, mythological stories, historical facts and religious legends, the beautiful folk dance drama of Hareli represents the varied yet rich cultural traditions of the ancient times that has percolated to the modern times. Endowed with rich traditional legacies, the Durg district is famous for its folk culture that is expressed through the beautiful dance forms, melodious songs, and dance dramas. Based on the folklores, mythological events, historical legends or religious stories, the beautiful and expressive folk dance drama of Kari reminds one of the rich antecedents of the glorious past. Rahas epitomises a harmonious blend of traditional cultural heritage coupled with modern values.

The beautiful dance drama of Rahas represents the rich cultural tradition of the modern times which has been inherited from the glorious past. A unique dance style of the cowherds of Chhattisgarh, the dancers of Raut Nacha enact the scene of the violent battle between King Khansa and the cowherds who belonged to the Yadav community of the region. Panthi dance reflects the rich culture of the indigenous tribal groups of the region. Representing the vibrant and dynamic cultural life of the local inhabitants of Chhattisgarh, Panthi dance epitomises the unique dance styles of the state. This dance form is followed by Satnami sect.

Sua dance casts a magical spell on the audience with its unique dance steps. The spectators of the traditional folk dance of Sua are spell bound with its unique dance steps. Dressed in colourful costumes, the performers of Sua dance perform with full enthusiasm, vigor and dedication which is reflected in their flawless performance. Karma form of dance is performed by the tribal groups such as Gonds, Baigas and Oraons. The Karma dance is symbolic of the fecundity of nature that manifests itself in the greenery and fruitfulness that marks the advent of spring. In this style of dance, both men and women perform by following the lead singer of the group.

The Saila tribal dance of Chhattisgarh is performed after the season of the harvests is over. The dance is generally performed by the young boys belonging to the plains of Chhattisgarh by going to each and every home of the adjacent village. This dance is basically performed in the month of Aghan. The dance is performed with the help of the sticks.