Chhau Dance

The Chhau dance is indigenous to the eastern part of India. It originated as a martial art and contains vigourous movements and leaps. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, many of the princely rulers of the Orissa region took a keen interest in the development of this art. They maintained troupes that performed on special occasions and festivals. Read More...

Brita Dance

Brita Dance is one of the folk dances  of West Bengal. Brita dance is also called Vrita Dance. It is mainly an invocation dance performed by women of Bengal , who are unable to give birth to children. Only women perform this dance, as a sign of bowing down before god, after they give birth to children. Thus, they offer their thankfulness of god after their wishes are fulfill. Quite often, this dance is also performed after a recovery from contagious diseases like small pox or chicken pox. Read More...

Dalkhai Dance

Dalkhai is the most popular folk dance of Orissa, is higly popular in the western parts of the state. It is performed on numerous occasions like Bhaijiuntia, Phagun Punei, Nuakhai etc.Dalkhai is mostly performed by young women of Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha and Sama tribes of Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sundargarh and Dhenkanal districts of Orissa in which men join them as drummers and musicians. The dance is accompanied by a rich orchestra of folk music played by a number of instruments known as Dhol, Nisan (a typically giant sized drum made of iron case), Tamki (a tiny one sided drum 6 inch in diameter played by two sticks), Tasa (a one sided drum) and Mahuri. Read More...