Sunday, 13 April 2014

FOLK DANCES OF TRIPURA

1.  Way (Lamp) Festival Dance:

The traditional dance of the Mog community is known as `Way Dance` or `Lamp Dance`. The people belonging to Mog community observe austerity from the full moon of Bengali month of Ashad down to the full moon Bengali month of Ashvin. There is not a single auspicious occasion from Ashad down to the full moon of month of Ashvin. Generally, no auspicious occasion like marriage is celebrated during the period, they try to avoid it. Even the married women do not go to their parents` house during this time.

`Way` is a name of festival that is celebrated on the day of full moon of the month in Ashvin. Lamps are dedicated to the Lord Buddha, which are launched on this day itself. The young boys and girls stand in rows with lamps in their hand to worship the Lord Buddha. It is like a token of their respect towards him. The youngsters indulge in fun & enjoyment through singing and dancing. It is performed at the premises of Buddha temple. 

2.  Welcome Dance:

As the name suggests, it is dance for welcoming. For this Welcome dance the Lusai girls are well dressed in order to get ready for performance. They generally wear the colorful & bright costumes. They performed welcome dance whenever any visitor pay visits to their house as a guest. This is very colorful & attractive dance where young girls of the entire community take part and enjoy. Their dress is so colorful that the ornaments are not very much required except fragrant flowers. Such kind of songs are deeply rooted in our culture to treat our guest as a God. 

3.  Wangala Dance:

Wangala is a ceremony connected with a consumption of first rice harvest. After the happy harvest `Wangala` is performed in every houses of the community. The Sangnakma, head of the communities visits every house and cuts a pumpkin as a part of worship. This pumpkin is sacrificed on this occasion for peaceful life. After that the women folk dance on the beat of `Dama` and `Aaduri` made of buffalo horn. The dance pattern projects the rehearsal for war. 

4.  Hai-Hak Dance:

Hai-Hak dance is dance performed by Halam community. Like many other tribal community of this State, the social and economic life of the Halam community also revolves around jhum cultivation. Therefore, at the end of the harvesting season the Malsum traditionally adore Goddess Laxmi. They enjoy very much this festive occasion for performing their famous Hai-Hak dance.

It is also a community dance that is full of exquisite beauty. Rhythms of the dance reflect the traditional & inherited kinds of dancing pattern from distant past. This group performance is a wonderful example of preserved art form.

5.  Hozagiri Dance: 

Many times the theme of the dance of tribal remains almost same to that of the nearby tribal community. But in case of the dance form of the Reang community is quite different from others & therefore distinct from others.

In this dance, the movement of hands or even the upper part of the body is somewhat restricted, whereas the movement beginning from their waist down to their feet creates a wonderful wave. The group performance of such actions gives a graceful look.

The performance of the dance is about balancing. While standing on an earthen pitcher with a bottle placed on the head having a lighted lamp on it, the performers attracts the attention of viewers. When the Reang belle dance twisting rhythmically the lower part of the body, the dance bewilders the onlookers.

The Reangs also use the musical Instruments like Khamb, Flute which is made of bamboo and bamboo cymbal for producing sound. The Reang women prefer to put on black Pachra and Rea as a costume for dance. Reang women put on coins ring that covers their entire upper portion of the body. They also put on rings made of coin in their ears. They are fond of fragrant flowers as ornaments. 

6.    Garia Dance: 

This is a folk dance performed in Tripura State. The life and culture of people of Tripura revolves around Jhum culture i.e.shifting cultivation. When the of seeds are sowed at a plot of land that selected for Jhum is over by the month of middle of April, they do prayers for good future. They pray to the God `Garia` for a happy harvest. The celebration is attached to the Garia Puja that lasts about for seven days. In these seven days, they seek to entertain their beloved deity with song and dance. 


7. Lebang Boomani Dance: 

When the Garia festival is over, the Tripuris have a time to take rest & relax with waiting for the monsoon. During this period, charming colorful insects called `Lebang` use to visit hill slopes in search of seeds sewn on it.

This is an annual visit of the insects. This gives the tribal youths to indulge in merry-making process. For this the men-folk make a peculiar rhythmic sound with the help of two bamboo chips held in their hand and the women folk run tottering the hill slopes to catch hold of these insects called `Lebang`. In this way they come together accidentally.

As the rhythm of the sound produced by the bamboo chips is such that it attracts the insects from their hiding places and the women in-groups come across catching them. Today, with time jhuming on hill slopes are gradually diminishing from this part. But the cultural life that developed centering round the jhum delved deep into the social life of these people. It still can be found in the state`s hills and dales as a reminiscence of the life. The tribal of today`s time cherishes in memory with such attachments and preserves this as a treasure. For this Tripuris use the musical instruments like Khamb made of Bamboo, Flute, Sarinda, Lebang made of bamboo and bamboo cymbal.
Tripuri women are fond of ornaments. Generally, for this occasion they wear an indigenous ornaments like chain made of silver with coin, bangle made of silver, ear and nose rings made of bronze to look good. They also adore flowers as ornaments. 


8.          Jhum Dance:

As Jhum involves a tremendous amount of physical labour, the cultivators in an effort to divert their minds indulge in singing and dancing. The dance depicts their life style, mode of cultivation, culture and traditions. This ‘working song’ serves as an inspiration for them to work harder.

9.          Sangrai – Mog Dance:

Sangrai is a special festival of Tripura. During this three-day festival, the younger members of the Mog community move from one house-to-house carrying the pious Wish Yielding Tree (Kalpataru) on their heads. This ceremony features singing as well as dancing. Water is carried in an auspicious pitcher and the elders of the community bathe with this water. Fragrant sandalwood paste is applied to the entrances of the houses in the village and the water of green coconuts is sprinkled on every house. In a grand ceremony fragrant water is poured on the roots of the ‘Bodhi Vriksha’. The dance is performed to the accompaniment of a traditional Khouyang.

10.      Galamuchamo:

The Tripuri community performs this dance at the end of the harvesting season. The dance is of special significance to the community. Through the dance the community expresses their gratitude to the Gods for a good harvest. The Galamuchamo dance is performed by dancers dressed in traditional attire. The musical instruments played during the dance are typical to Tripura.
11.      Dailo Nritya:

Dailo Nritya is a dance performed amidst great festivity and gaiety. This dance is performed when the crops are brought home. Invitations are sent to neighbours, friends and relatives. The entire community participates in the dance.

12.      Wya Dance:

The Mogh community of Tripura celebrates the Wya festival on the full moon night of the month of Ashwin of the Bengali calendar year. Young boys and girls stand in rows with lamps in their hands to pray to Lord Buddha. After the worship, they sing and dance in the premises of the Buddha temple. This traditional dance is known as the Wya Dance or the Lamp Dance.

13.      Gajan:

The Bengali community of Tripura celebrates the Gajan festival. Prayers are offered to Lord Shiva for a happy and prosperous new year. Dressed as Lord Shiva, Goddess Durga, Goddess Kali, Nandi and Bhringi (the associates of Lord Shiva), the performers dance to the beat of drums and sing songs in praise of Lord Shiva.


14.      Cheraw:

The Cheraw Dance or Bamboo Dance is a dance of the Lushai community of Tripura. This dance is performed by women to help instill confidence in a pregnant woman. It is believed that even if the pregnant woman dies during childbirth, she will leave for the heavenly abode in peace.

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