Folk Dances of India: India is a multicultural country with rich traditional dance forms. Each state in India has its own unique dance style, passed down from generation to generation. These dances not only represent the culture and traditions of the country, but also serve as entertainment and a way of telling stories. In this article, we have compiled a list of Indian folk dance states you should know about. From the vibrant Gera of Punjab to the elegant Mohiniatan of Kerala, there is plenty to explore and discover.We’ll delve into the history, meaning and characteristics of each dance form, giving you insight into the diversity of Indian culture. So join us on this fascinating journey to discover Indian folk dances.
Folk Dances of India: A State-Wise Journey Through the Vibrant Cultural Heritage – 2023 List
List Of Folk Dances In India State Wise
| No. | State | Dance Names |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | 1) Burrakatha 2) Butla Bommalu 3) Dhimsa 4) Gobbi 5) Goravayyalu 6) Kolattam 7) Kuchipudi 8) Lambadi 9) Siddi 10) Veeranatyam |
| 2 | Arunachal Pradesh | 1) Aji Lamu 2) Digaru Mishmi Buiya 3) Hiirii Khaniing 4) Idu Mishmi 5) Ka Fifai 6) Khampti 7) Ponung 8) Sadinuktso 9) Wancho |
| 3 | Assam | 1) Apsara-Sabah 2) Bagurumba 3) Bhawariya 4) Bhortal 5) Bihu 6) Deodhani 7) Dhuliya 8) Ojapali 9) Sattriya 10) Zikirs |
| 4 | Bihar | 1) Bidesiya 2) Domkach 3) Fagua 4) Jat-Jatin 5) Jhijhiya 6) Jhumri 7) Kajari 8) Painki 9) Sohar |
| 5 | Chhattisgarh | 1) Gendi 2) Jhirliti 3) Karma 4) Pandwani 5) Panthi 6) Raut Nacha 7) Saila Dance 8) Sua Nacha |
| 6 | Goa | 1) Amon 2) Dashavatara 3) Dekhni 4) Dhalo 5) Dhangar 6) Dulpod 7) Fugdi 8) Kunnbi-Geet 9) Mussoll 10) Shigmo |
| 7 | Gujarat | 1) Aagawa 2) Dandiya Raas 3) Garba 4) Ghodakhund 5) Hudo 6) Matukadi 7) Padhar 8) Siddi Dhamal 9) Tippani |
| 8 | Haryana | 1) Gangaur 2) Ghoomar 3) Guga 4) Jhomar 5) Khoria 6) Loor 7) Phag 8) Phalgun 9) Rasleela 10) Sapela |
| 9 | Himachal Pradesh | 1) Chamba 2) Cholamba 3) Dalshone 4) Jataru Kayang 5) Jhoori 6) Ji 7) Nati 8) Nuala 9) Rasa 10) Swang Tegi |
| 10 | Jharkhand | 1) Bheja 2) Damkach 3) Janani Jhumar 4) Jhumair 5) Lahasua 6) Mardana Jhumar 7) Mundari 8) Phagua 9) Sarhul 10) Santali |
| 11 | Karnataka | 1) Bedara Vesha 2) Bharatanatyam 3) Dollu Kunitha 4) Gorava Kunitha 5) Kuchipudi 6) Nagamandala 7) Pata Kunitha 8) Puja Kunitha 9) Veeragase 10) Yakshagana |
| 12 | Kerala | 1) Ayyappanvilakku 2) Kalaripayattu 3) Kathakali 4) Koodiyattam 5) Mohiniyattam 6) Mohiniyattom 7) Pulikalli 8) Theyyam 9) Thirayattam 10) Thirvathirakali |
| 13 | Madhya Pradesh | 1) Ahirai 2) Banjaara 3) Bharam 4) Gaur 5) Grida 6) Kaksar 7) Muriya 8) Phul Patti 9) Saila 10) Setam |
| 14 | Maharashtra | 1) Bala Dindi 2) Banjara 3) Dhangari Gaja 4) Koli 5) Lavani 6) Lezim 7) Povadas 8) Powada 9) Tamasha |
| 15 | Manipur | 1) Chanlam 2) Kartal Cholam 3) Khamba Thoibi 4) Khubak Eshei 5) Lai-Haraoba 6) Lie Haraoba 7) Manipuri Raas Leela 8) Manjira Cholam 9) Pung Cholam 10) Rass Lila |
| 16 | Meghalaya | 1) Behdienkhlam 2) Chambil Mesara 3) Derogata 4) Do Dru Sua 5) Lahoo Dance 6) Pomblang Nongkrem 7) Shad Nongkrem 8) Shad Suk Mynsiem 9) Wangala 10) Wiking |
| 17 | Mizoram | 1) Chai-Lam 2) Chawnglaizawn 3) Cheraw (Bamboo Dance) 4) Chheih-Lam 5) Khuallam 6) Rallu-Lam 7) Sakei Lu Lam 8) Sarlamkai 9) Solakia 10) Tlanglam |
| 18 | Nagaland | 1) Aaluyattu 2) Agurshikukula 3) Butterfly 4) Changai 5) Modse 6) Nruirolians 7) Sadal Kekai 8) War Dance 9) Zeliang |
| 19 | Odisha | 1) Baagh Naach 2) Chhau 3) Dalkhai 4) Dhap 5) Ghumra 6) Goti 7) Jhumair 8) Karma Naach 9) Keisabadi 10) Odissi Nrutya |
| 20 | Punjab | 1) Bhangra 2) Dankara Julli 3) Giddha 4) Jaago 5) Jhumar 6) Karthi 7) Kikkli 8) Luddi 9) Malwai Giddha 10) Sammi |
| 21 | Rajasthan | 1) Banjaara 2) Bhavai 3) Chari 4) Fire Dance 5) Geeda 6) Ghoomar 7) Kachchhi Ghodi 8) Kalbelia 9) Rasiya 10) Tera Tali |
| 22 | Sikkim | 1) Chu Faat 2) Gha To Kito 3) Khukuri 4) Lu Khangthamo 5) Maruni 6) Pang Toed Chaam 7) Rechungma 8) Rumtek Chaam 9) Singhi Chaam 10) Tamang Selo |
| 23 | Tamil Nadu | 1) Bommalattam 2) Karagattam 3) Kolattam 4) Kummi 5) Mayil Attam 6) Oyilattam 7) Paambhu Attam 8) Parai Attam 9) Podikazhi Attam 10) Puliyattam 11) Theru Koothu |
| 24 | Telangana | 1) Bhamakalapam 2) Bonalu 3) Burra Katha 4) Dandaria 5) Gollakalapam 6) Gusadi 7) Kuchipudi 8) Lambadi 9) Perini Shivatandavam 10) Tribal Dhimsa |
| 25 | Tripura | 1) Bizhu 2) Cheraw 3) Goria 4) Hai-Hak 5) Hojagiri 6) Jhum 7) Lebang Bumani 8) Mamita 9) Mosak Sulmani 10) Wangal |
| 26 | Uttar Pradesh | 1) Charkula 2) Dadra 3) Karma 4) Kathak 5) Mayur Nritya 6) Nautanki 7) Qawwali 8) Ramlila 9) Raslila 10) Swang |
| 27 | Uttarakhand | 1) Barada Nati 2) Botiya 3) Cancheri 4) Chholiya 5) Chhopati 6) Dhurang 7) Jhora 8) Langvir Nritya 9) Pandav Nritya 10) Romala |
| 28 | West Bengal | 1) Alkap 2) Chhau 3) Dhunachi 4) Domni 5) Gambhira 6) Gazan 7) Jatra 8) Jhumair 9) Kalikapatadi 10) Santali |
List Of Dances In India Union Territories
| No. | Union Territory | Dance Names |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 1) Nicobari |
| 2 | Chandigarh | 1) Bhangra 2) Giddha |
| 3 | Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 1) Garba 2) Mando 3) Verdigao 4) Vira |
| 4 | Delhi | 1) Belly 2) Bhangra 3) Dandiya 4) Hip Hop 5) Salsa |
| 5 | Jammu and Kashmir | 1) Bachha Nagma 2) Bhand Jashan 3) Bhand Pather 4) Dumhal 5) Hafiza 6) Kud 7) Rouf 8) Wuegi-Nachun |
| 6 | Ladakh | 1) Bacha Nagma 2) Cham 3) Jabro 4) Loshon 5) Shon 6) Shoudol 7) Spao 8) Tukhstanmo |
| 7 | Lakshadweep | 1) Bandiya 2) Dand 3) Fuli 4) Kolkaki 5) Lava |
| 8 | Puducherry | 1) Chau 2) Garadi 3) Kathak 4) Kuchipudi 5) Mohininattam 6) Yakshgana |
Classical Dance Recognised By The Sangeet Natak Akademi
| No. | State | Dance Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andhra Pradesh | Kuchipudi |
| 2 | Assam | Sattriya |
| 3 | Kerala | Kathakali |
| 4 | Kerala | Mohiniyattam |
| 5 | Manipur | Manipuri |
| 6 | Odisha | Odissi |
| 7 | Tamil Nadu | Bharatanatyam |
| 8 | Uttar Pradesh | Kathak |
Source: Discover the Top 10 Popular Folk Dances of India with State Details
Exploring India’s Folk Dances FAQs?
What is meant by folk dance?
A folk dance is a traditional dance of a particular cultural community, typically performed by ordinary people rather than professional dancers. These dances are passed down from generation to generation and are an important part of the community’s cultural heritage.
What are the most popular folk dances of Tamil Nadu?
Kummi, Kavadiyattam, Kolattam, Karakattam, Mayil attam, Oyilattam, Puliyattam, Poikal Kuthirai Attam, Paampu attam, Bommalattam, Theru Koothu are some of the most popular folk dances of Tamil Nadu.
What is the folk dance of Telangana?
Perini Shivatandavam is the folk dance of Telangana. It was during the Kakatiya dynasty, that the Perini Shivathandavam dance originated and prospered. This dance is performed by the males in honor of Lord Shiva.
Why are folk dances important?
Folk dances are an essential aspect of a community’s culture, and they play a significant role in preserving cultural heritage. They are a way to express emotions, tell stories, and celebrate special occasions, such as weddings, harvest festivals, and religious festivals.
What are some of the popular folk dances in India?
India is home to numerous folk dances, each with its unique style, music, and costumes. Some of the popular folk dances in India include Bhangra, Garba, Dandiya, Ghoomar, Lavani, Bihu, Chhau, Kathakali, and many more.
How are folk dances performed in India?
Folk dances in India are typically performed in groups, with men and women dancing together. The dancers wear colorful traditional costumes and accessories, and the dance moves are often energetic and lively, accompanied by music played on traditional instruments such as dhol, tabla, and shehnai.
Which state in India is known for its folk dances?
Almost every state in India has its unique folk dance forms, but some states are particularly famous for their rich cultural heritage and traditional dances. For example, Rajasthan is known for its Ghoomar and Kalbeliya dances, while Gujarat is famous for Garba and Dandiya Raas. Bihar is known for Jhumar and Bidesia, and Assam is known for Bihu.
What is the significance of costumes in Indian folk dances?
Costumes are an essential element of Indian folk dances. They are typically vibrant and colorful, often reflecting the region’s culture and traditions. The costumes also play a significant role in the dance, as they accentuate the dancers’ movements and add to the visual appeal of the performance.
