Bengali Folk Dance

Bengal, a land of fecundity and prosperity embraces all within her fold. The varied hues of her rich culture colour her songs, music and literature. The numerous tribes and ethnic groups of Bengal have their own distinctive folk arts, as varied and beautiful as the tribes themselves. Bengal's repertoire of folk songs with its lyrical appeal and richness, its thematic diversity and range is a reflection of rural Bengals creativity and imagination. As a traditional art form, folk dances of Bengal have gained immense popularity and recognition over the years. The dances contain themes that range from ritualistic to satirical and from allegorical to social. They involve prayers, offerings, celebrations and odes. Usually performed during festive seasons, or to mark a happy occasion, these dances ingrained in folk culture, reflect local faith, tradition and custom. These dances encompass a broad spectrum, from invoking the rain Gods for a good harvest to depicting mythological events. In fact, some religious festivals are celebrated through songs and dances that characterise devotion, prayer and worship. The dance forms that have evolved from the martial arts depict events from the great Indian epics, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. These dances are performed round the year on various occasions, at fairs and festivals and religious conglomerations.

Some of the well known folk dances of Bengal include:

---

Baul

Bengal, during the post medieval period, was a divided and closed society. Ruled by religious strictures, Hindus and Muslims led cloistered lives, against which grew a protest that took on the character of a cult. The community of protesters could be identified by the robes they wore (a long saffron-coloured cloak called the alkhalla with a turban of the same colour), the one-stringed instrument or Ektara they always carried and the bells they tied to their perpetually dancing feet.

The word 'Baul' means mad, the madness that comes out of an overwhelming love for the Infinite Self. The singers describe the transience of mundane existence and the simple means to spiritual upliftment, though the root of their philosophical theory rests in a deeper complex psychological consciousness.

The music of the Bauls had a significant influence on Rabindranath Tagore. Today the Bauls' songs can be heard in many districts of West Bengal as their footsteps dot the muddy village lanes of Bankura, Birbhum, Burddhaman, Nadia, Dinajpur and Murshidabad. 

Purulia Chhau

The Chhau dance of Purulia district is one of the most vibrant and colourful art forms. Emerging from martial practice, the Purulia Chhau is a vigorous form of dance drama that draws its themes from the two great Indian epics, The

 Ramayana and The Mahabharata. Masks and elaborate headgear are the ornamental apparels of the Chhau dancers. The dance is believed to date back to over a century, though the specific date of its origin cannot be definitely ascertained.  The dance is an essential part of the Gajan Festival, a festival that celebrates the glories of Lord Shiva.  The accompanying musical instruments include the Dhol, Dhamsa and Shenai.

The dance commences with an invocation to Lord Ganesh. Then the movements follow the nuances of the story. In a Chhau Dance the fight between good and evil always culminates in the triumph of good over destructive evil. The elaborate masks, the dazzling costumes, the rhythmic drum beatings and shenai, characterise the Chhau Dance. A distinctive feature of this dance is the acrobatic use of the body and the intricately crafted masks worn by the dancers. Powerful movements, immense concentration and release of energy are the other features of this dance.

Santhali Dance

The Santhals are an integral part of the folklore of Bengal. The Santhali dance form is seen in the districts of Birbhum, Bankura, Malda and Burddhaman. The Santhals are born dancers. Dance is an integral part of all festivities of the Santhal community. Musical accompaniment is provided by instruments like the Madol, Flute, Dhamsa, Jhanj, Kartal and occasionally the Shenai. 

Simplicity of theme and language is what makes the Santhal dances so endearing. Nowadays, Santhali men also take part in the dances, most of which are seasonal and reflect the ritualistic life of the Santhal community. Each dance form has its own distinctive rhythm and dance style.

The Santhal dance reflects the beauty of rural Bengal and adds colour to the palette of the folk culture of the state.

   

Gambhira

Gambhira, a popular annual festival of Malda District comprises songs and dances closely related to agriculture and mythology.

The word Gambhira means 'Devalaya' or House of God. This festival is very closely associated with Shiva Puja. In the different rituals associated with Gambhira Puja we find an amalgamation of different religious thoughts like Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Buddhism and Shaktiism. In Malda district, where this festival is immensely popular, Shiva is also known as Gambhir, and hence the festival associated with Shiv Puja is known as Gambhira.

Gajan

Gajan is a very popular festival in some parts of Bengal. Gajan songs are sung in praise of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati in the Bengali month of Chaitra. Singing and dancing is an integral part of this celebration. The dance is performed with great devotion and austerity. The dancers sometimes dress up as Hara

Parvati and move around the village, dancing to the accompaniment of the Dhol, Kanshi and Flute. In Malda and Murshidabad, the celebration is known as Bolan.

Durga Puja Dhak

Utsav is Bengal is synonymous with Durga Puja. The Bengali waits all year round for the arrival of Devi Ma. It is a time for celebration and festivity, and it is the

sound of the Bengali Drum or the Dhak that joyously announces her eagerly awaited arrival. It is the sound of the Dhak that captures the many moods of the Devi, frenzied, calm, plaintive and nostalgic, and it is the sound of the Dhak that also tells us it is time for her to return to her heavenly abode. Every beat of the dhak is different and each of them holds a special place in every Bengalis heart.
.

Bratachari - Raibense

The Raibense dance which is performed by a group of male dancers is a part of the repertoire of the 'Bratachari' tradition of West Bengal. The Raibense dance of ancient Bengal, is a significant and authentic reminder that the Bengalis were once renowned for their military prowess. The dance belongs to a living tradition of the war dances of ancient Bengal. Rai means royal, kingly and bansh or bansha means bamboo. This was used by the infantry soldiers in the middle ages. This vigorous

dance form includes mock fighting and acrobatics.

The Bagdi, Bauri and Dom communities of Burddhaman, Birbhum & Murshidabad districts, perform the dance.

Stick Dance or Laghur Nritya

The Stick Dance or Laghur Nritya is another interesting martial folk art form of West Bengal. The stick, which has from time immemorial been used as a weapon of

self-defence, is used in this dance. The long sticks not only keep the beat of the dance, but are also used for the acrobatic feats, which are an integral part of this dance form.
.

Dhali & Paika Nritya

These two dances are heroic war dances and are performed by a group of dancers. The Dhali Dance, as the name implies, is the Shield Dance. It was the war dance of the Dhali (Shield man) troupes in the armies of the ancient potentates of Bengal. In the Dhali Dance, the spectacular movements are formal and are more in the nature of athletic exercises. It is a dance of high aesthetic value by virtue of its intricate manoeuvres and or

dered formations.

Kirtan Dance

The Kirtan Dance is the most widely practised folk dance form of Bengal. The democratic nature of the dance, which unites people of the whole village, irrespective of their caste or social standing is its most striking feature. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of the Dhol and Mridanga. The great spiritual

leader, Shri Chaitanya Dev gave the dance a national character.

Mech Dance

The Mech Dance is another popular dance form of North Bengal, the land of forests, mountains and turbulent rivers.

Bagroomba is performed by the Mech women at spring festivals, The colourful costumes used by the dancers are evocative of butterflies.

Chal Jhumgre Gele Nai is a war dance which is rhythmic and martial in character.

In the Mesa Glang Nai dance, performed by the Mech women, the youth of the community is exhorted to be industrious and hardworking.This dance is performed as the women pluck flowers for the 'Kherai Puja'. They carry small bowls in their hand to collect the flowers.

Jhumur Dance

The Jhumur Dance is one of the liveliest folk dances of Bengal. Several variations of this dance have emerged from Purulia, Birbhum, Bankura and Burddhaman. This is an elaborate dance, choreographed and performed by professional artistes. Here lies its essential differenc

e with forms like the Santhal Dance. The dance is performed by girls while the boys play the Dhol and Madol.  This secular dance form is accompanied by fast-paced and cheerful Jhumur songs.

The sensuous Nachni is an offshoot of the Jhumur Dance, depicting the love of Radha (Nachni) and Krishna (Rasik).

Bhadu

As the rains pour down on the red earth of Bengal, voices rise in praise of Bhadreswari Ma, invoking her blessings for a good harvest. Originating from the districts of Bankura, Purulia, West Burddhaman and Birbhum, the Bhadu Dance is performed mainly during the Monsoon. The dance draws its name from the Bengali month of Bhadra, when the monsoon showers drench the earth. The

Bhadu Festival celebrates the transformation of Princess Bhadreswari into a cult figure..

The Bhadu festival is also celebrated in Chota Nagpur, where it is known as 'Karam Parab'.

Tushu

When we think of harvest songs in Bengali folk culture, we think of Tushu. Tushu songs, originating from the districts of Bankura, Purulia & Midnapore have similar features. The daily lives and relationships of the villagers form the theme of this genre of songs. Family rows between rival co-wives, and between wives and their sisters-in-law find a place in Tushu songs.

Tushu songs being associated with harvesting, always refer to the householders wealth - 'ghee of 32 cows', 'rice of fine paddy', 'pots of ghee and gur' are some of the expressions used. The villagers pray to the Folk Goddess Tushu for prosperity. They ask for the Goddess's blessings so that their homes and the homes of their sons may overflow with wealth.

Dhamail

Dhamail is a folk dance performed by the married women of rural Bengal. The women arrange themselves in a circle, around a certain object of prayer, clapping to the beats of the song. While praying to the Sun God, a lit diya, symbolising the sun, is kept at the centre. The clapping brings a rhythmic element into the otherwise slow-paced dance.

Nabanna

Nabanna is a ritualistic dance performed after the autumn harvest. It is part of a

religious ceremony associated with cultivation and harvesting. The dance is an expression of the happiness of the farmers' families after a successful harvest. A special religious ceremony is held on the day the new rice is eaten.

                                    ~Kusal Debnath