What is the Folk Dance of Arunachal Pradesh?

What is the Folk Dance of Arunachal Pradesh?

Arunachal Pradesh is a beautiful state, commonly referred to as the "Land of the Dawn-Lit Mountains," situated in northeast India. With scenic beauty in abundance, varied cultures, and colorful traditions in diversity, it has got everything of these, the famous folk dances and folk songs of Arunachal Pradesh emerge as bright and integral parts of the rich cultural heritage of this state.

Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

In Arunachal Pradesh, folk dance is an entire way of life. It reflects the values, beliefs, and stories of various tribes that inhabit this region. These dances are normally done during festivals, celebrations, and important life events like weddings and harvests.

Within Arunachal Pradesh, so many tribes coexist with their own culture and traditions. Thus, there exists a huge variety of folk dances, all differently styled and significant in their own way.These dances are performed to the traditional music played from instruments like drums, cymbals, and flutes.

Famous Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

Some of the most famous folk dances pertaining to Arunachal Pradesh will now be discussed.

1. Bardo Chham (Tribe: Sherdukpen)

Bardo Chham dance is a dance of Sherdukpen. It is a religious dance referring to the victory of good over the bad. The dancers have colorful masks and outfits, mimicking some of the animals and different characters. It is performed for the goddess of good fortunes. It is performed in the calendar of Buddhist New Year, and it is known as Losar.

2. Wancho Dance (Tribe: Wancho)

This folk dance of Arunachal Pradesh is performed by the Wancho tribe. This is a lively energetic dance usually carried out during festivals like Oriah. Oriah is a harvest festival. The dancers dress themselves in traditional costumes decorated with feathers and beads. Through this dance, they celebrate harvest and thank the deities.

3. Aji Lhamu (Tribe: Monpa)

Aji Lhamu is a traditional dance form of the Monpa tribe. It is inspired by Tibetan culture and depicts the victory of a legendary queen, Lhamu. Dancers put on very spectacular costumes, together with fitting masks, and are accompanied by traditional Tibetan music. Aji Lhamu is performed during the Losar festival and other major occasions.

4. Pasi Kongki (Tribe: Adi)

This is a social dance where the Pasi Kongki dance forms part of the festivals and noteworthy events of the tribes' lives, performed by the Adi tribe. Graceful rhythmic movements can be seen during the performance of this dance. It shows the folklore of a legendary hero, Abotani. Dancers ornament themselves with traditional attire and dance in a circle.

5. Popir (Tribe: Adi)

Popir is another popular folk dance of Arunachal Pradesh celebrated by the Adi tribe. This dance is performed during harvest season or in honor of their deities. The female dancers beautify themselves with  traditional attires and dance uniformly, composing a pleasing view of rhythm and grace. The accompanying music belongs to the traditional category played by instruments like drums and cymbals.

6. Chalo Dance (Tribe: Nocte)

This Chalo dance is carried out by the Nocte tribe as a part of their Chalo Loku festival. This is a harvest Thanksgiving dance and is done in a gesture to thank God for providing good yield. The dancers wear traditional dresses and dance uniformly, sometimes even in a circle or a line.

Dance Forms of Arunachal Pradesh

The diversified cultural landscape of Arunachal Pradesh finds its reflection in the varied dance forms. Each tribe has its own dance form steeped deep in tradition and a way of life. Basically, all these different dance forms can be segregated into three types:

1. Religious Dances

These are the ritual dances during festivals and ritual functions are performed as an item of worship to the gods and goddesses. This is mostly combined with prayer and offering and performed for good luck and prosperity to the community.

Examples: Bardo Chham, Aji Lhamu

2. Social Dances

The social dances are done during festivals, weddings, and other social gatherings. It is a means of bringing people together to celebrate in any field of significance. The majority of the dances are accompanied by fast movements and energy.

Examples: Wancho Dance, Popir

3. Recreational Dances

Entertaining and recreational dances are danced to enjoy and amuse themselves. They are dance forms that are less formal and done during free time. They provide an opportunity wherein a person can express one's self and enjoy other people's company.

Examples: Chalo Dance, Pasi Kongki

The Cultural Significance of Folk Dances in Arunachal Pradesh

The form of folk dance in Arunachal Pradesh does not deal with only movement and music; it is symbolic in portraying the concept of identity from each of the available tribes. The people of Arunachal Pradesh pass their tradition, stories, and values from one generation to another through these dances. 

All the folk dances of Arunachal Pradesh are generally representative of acts of daily life, historical events, and myths. They are somewhat symbolic of the historical and religious aspirations that get portrayed through a live pictorial of the tribe's history, faith, and cultural values.

Conclusion

The folk dances reflect the rich cultural diversity of Arunachal Pradesh. Every style of dance, with its own dance form and significance, makes the heritage quite colorful for Arunachal Pradesh. These dances are not only sources of entertainment; they also educate, inspire, and unite people.

The children can learn these dances and enjoy the process of learning about the culture of Arunachal Pradesh. It is one way to teach children the importance of tradition, community, and celebrating each moment in an individual's life. Be it the graceful steps of the Pasi Kongki or the fast-beat steps of the Wancho, every form of folk dance of Arunachal Pradesh has a story or lesson behind it.

So, the next time the beats of the drum or the vibrant costumes of the dancer reach your eyes, just remember that you are getting a view of the rich cultural heritage of Arunachal Pradesh, which all these years has been continuously flowing from one generation to the other and continues to win hearts of its people.

 

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