Dances of India- Classical and Folk Dances of India

India is a culturally rich country and is the embodiment of ‘unity in diversity’. Every state contributes to the art and culture by way of its regional language/s, cuisine, architecture and various art forms like music, painting, dance etc. There are so many art forms in our country that one might feel it is a tiresome job remembering all of them; and this is especially true for the dances of India. Also, questions on dances find a regular presence in the General Awareness section of Mains stage of various competitive exams. So to help you in this regard, we have come up with some tricks that will help you remember the various dances of India. In this article, we have listed the dance forms of India – classical Dances of India and folk dances of India – and some tricks that can prove handy when recalling these dances.

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Classical Dances of India

We have six classical dances of India from six different states. They have been historically important for the local culture and hence have earned a special status of being known as ‘Classical Dances’ of Indi

Dance is a poem of which each movement is a word
Mata Hari 

 

Classical Dance of India	State
Bharatanatyam	Tamil Nadu
Kathak	Uttar Pradesh
Kathakali	Kerala
Kuchipudi	Andhra Pradesh
Manipuri	Manipur
Odissi	Odisha

Kali(Kathakali) left Kerala to join her brother Bharat(Bharatnatyam) in Tamil Nadu. They ate Pudi AND(Andhra Pradesh) went UP(Uttar Pradesh) to see Kathak dance.

 

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Folk Dances of India 

We have tabulated the folk dances of India from various states in the table below. Alongside are some tricks to help you memorize the folk dances of India state-wise.

 

Folk Dances of India	State	Trick
Kolattam, Veeranatyam, Burra Katha, Andhra Natyam	Andhra Pradesh	Veera and Kola wear the Burqa (Burra) in Andhra
Ponung, Daminda, Wancho, Taapu, Bardo Chham, Khampti, Rikhampada, Lion and Peacock dance	Arunachal Pradesh	Wancho and Taapu dance to Bardo’s rhythm at the Ponung Dam; while Khampti and Rikha watch Lion and Peacock dance
Bihu, Jhumair, Bagurumba, Deodhani, Bhortal, Ankiya Nat	Assam	Bihu, Bagu, Ankiya and Dhani work at the Jhum farm during bhor (‘morning’ in Assamese) time
Bidesia, Jhumari, Jhijhian, Kajari, Paika, Sohar-Khilouna	Bihar	Jhijhian, Jhumari and Kajari went to Bides (abroad) to earn paisa (money) and buy khilouna (toy) for Sohar
Saila, Karma, Panthi, Sua Nacha	Chhattisgarh	Saila, Panthi and Sua Nach believe in Karma’s Chhattis (36) promises
Dalo, Goff, Diwli Nach, Ghode, Dashavtara	Goa	At the Goa beach, during Diwali (Diwli) days, Ghode tried to dalo (putting in) the golf (goff) ball into the bag
Garba, Dandiya, Bhavai, Tippani, Hudo, Padhar	Gujarat	Bhavani (Bhavai) gave tips  (Tippani) in Gujarati to Hudo and Anpadh (padhar) for Garba and Dandiya
Phag, Saang, Chhathi, Khoria, Ghoomar, Jhumar, Loor	Haryana	Jhumar and Ghoomar sang (Saang) ‘Chhathi ka Loor’ song at the Phag Khora in Haryana
Dangi, Chhanak Chham, Jhora, Jadda	Himachal Pradesh	In Himachal’s Chhanak Chham, Jadeja (Jadda) wearing a Lungi (Dangi) danced jhora
Santhali, Jhumar	Jharkhand	Santa (Santhali) danced jhumar on Christmas in Jharkhand
Yakshagana, Nagamandala, Dollu Kunitha	Karnataka	Naga, Dolly (Dollu) and Sunita (Kunitha) lived with Yaksha in Karnataka
Mohini attam, Kakkarissi Kali, Dappu Kali, Kolkkali, Vela Kali, Kaduva Kali, Sarpam Thullal, Bhadrakali Thullal, Kolam Thullal, Thumpi Thullal	Kerala	Neighbours of Mohini in Andhra:   1)   Kali family: Kakka, Dappu, Vela, Koli 2)   Thullal family: Kolam, Sarpa, Thumpi, Bhadra
Matki, Karma, Tertali Muria, Ahiri, Lehangi, Phul Pati	Madhya Pradesh	Muria, wearing Ahiri Lehanga, with phul (flowers) in a matki (pot), goes to Madhya temple as she fears her bad Karma
Dindi, Koli, Lavani, Kala, Lezim, Dashavtar	Maharashtra	Kala and Koli performed Dindi just after the Dashavtar Lezim programme and just before Maharashrian Lavani
Pung Cholom, Maibi, Khamba Thaibi, Raslila	Manipur	Maibi and Thaibi cholo (went) for the Raslila event in Manipur
Nongkrem, Dorsegata, Lahoo	Meghalaya	Lahoo (blood) was streaming out of the Non-Dorsal part of Meghalayan Leopard
Khuallam, Zangtalam, Sarlamkai, Parlam	Mizoram	The Alam family from Mizoram had 4 members: Sarlam, Zangta, Khual and Parla
Temangnetin, Gethinglim	Nagaland	Getting and taming a Naga Hornbill is illegal!
Naga, Ghumra, Danda Nata, Jhumar, Kathi	Odisha	With an Odia kathi (stick) and danda (hand),  Ghumra (went) to see the Naga Jhumar
Bhangra, Jhumar, Luddi	Punjab	Punjabis love drinking Lassi (Luddi) and jhuming (dancing) Bhangra
Ghoomar, Chari, Kathputli, Bhawai	Rajasthan	There were char (four) Bhawai Rajas (kings): 2  went for Kathputli; the other 2 went for Ghoomar
Karagattam, Kolaattam, Kavadiattam, Devarattam	Tamil Nadu	4 members of Attam family in Tamil Nadu: Karaga, Kavadi, Kola and Deva
Dappu, Lambadi, Perini Sivatandavam	Telangana	Dappu and Perini brought their lamb to the Sivtandavam clinic.
Bizu, Garia, Jhum, Hozagiri, Sangrai, Dailo	Tripura	Hoza dialled (Dailo) Bizu and Garia while they sang and jhum (danced) in Tripura
Raslila, Ramlila, Khyal, Nautanki, Swan, Dadra, Charkula, Chappeli	Uttar Pradesh	Raslin Khyal (thought) of eating Chapatis so he offered UP char (four) to Nautan, Dadra, Swan and Ram
Hurka Baul, Garwali	Uttarakhand	Uttarakhand’s Garhwal (Garwali) is famous for Hurka Bowl (Baul)
Chhau, Gambhira, Santhal, Ganga Baidya, Lathi, Rabha	West Bengal	Gambhir and Rabha halted at Saint Ganga Baidya’s Chhau near the Bengal Lathi

Some important tips to remember Dances of India

• The dance form that starts or ends with Kali is generally from Kerala
• The dance form that ends with attam (except Mohiniattam and Kolattam) are from Tamil Nadu.

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That was all from our side in this blog of dances of India. Stay tuned for more such interesting tips and tricks with regard to various competitive exams!

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Conclusion

This was all about Dances of India. Our goal is to provide candidates with information that will help them prepare for their exam. Keep following Oliveboard for more information and exam related updates.