Folk Dances of Tripura
Garia Dance
The life and culture of Tripuris revolve around Jhum(shifting) cultivation.
When the sowing of seeds at a plot of land selected for Jhum is over by middle
of April, they pray to the God 'Garia' for a happy harvest. The celebrations
attached to the Garia Puja continue for seven days when they seek to entertain
their beloved deity with song and dance.
Lebang Boomani Dance
After the Garia festival is over, the Tripuris have a time to rest awaiting
the monsoon. During this period, folks of charming colorful insects called 'Lebang'
use to visit hill slopes in search of seeds sewn on it. The annual visit of
the insects renders the tribal youths to indulge in merry-making. While the
men-folk make a peculiar rhythmic sound with the help of two bamboo chips in
their hand, the women folk run tottering the hill slopes to catch hold of these
insects called 'Lebang'. The rhythm of the sound made by the bamboo chips attracts
the insects from their hiding places and the women in-groups catch them. With
the change of time jhuming on hill slopes are gradually diminishing. But the
cultural life that developed centering round the jhum delved deep into the society.
It still exists in the state's hills and dales as a reminiscence of the life,
which the tribal of today cherish in memory, and preserve as treasure. In both
the dances Tripuris use the musical instruments like Khamb made of Bamboo, Flute,
Sarinda, Lebang made of bamboo and bamboo cymbal. Tripuri women generally put
on indigenous ornaments like chain made of silver with coin, Bangle made of
silver, ear and nose rings made of bronze. They prefer flower as ornaments.
Hozagiri Dance
While the theme of the dance remains almost to be the same as of other tribes,
the dance form of the Reang community is quite different from others. 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. Standing on an earthen pitcher with a bottle on the head and a lighted
lamp on it, 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 made of bamboo and bamboo cymbal. The Reang women
prefer to put on black Pachra and Rea. Reang women put on coins ring, which
generally covers their entire upper region. They also put on rings made of coin
in their ears. They are fond of fragrant flowers as ornaments to metal things.
Bizu Dance
This popular form of dance is characteristic of the Chakma community. Bizu means
'Chaitra-Sankranti'. 'Chaitra-Sankranti' denotes end of Bengali calendar year.
It is during this period when the Chakmas sing and dance to bid good-bye to
the year just being ended and welcome the new year. The dance is beautifully
orchestrated with the rhythm playing of what is known as 'Khenggarang' and 'Dhukuk'
sorts of flutes. The Chakma women are fond of flower, which they often use in
their hair. They also use metal ornaments.
Hai-Hak Dance
Like other tribal community of this State the social and economic life of the
Halam community also revolve around jhum cultivation. At the end of the harvesting
season the Malsum traditionally adore Goddess Laxmi. They enjoy this festive
occasion for their famous Hai-Hak dance. It is also a community dance with exquisite
beauty. Rhythms of the dance reflect the tradition inherited from distant past.
Wangala Dance
After the happy harvest 'Wangala'(1-st rice eating ceremony) is performed in
every houses. 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.
After that the women dance to the beat of 'Dama' and 'Aaduri' made of buffalo
horn. The dance projects the rehearsal for war.
Welcome Dance
The Lusai girls are well dressed. They generally wear their colorful cloth.
They performed welcome dance whenever any visitor pay visits to their house.
This is very colorful dance where young girls of the entire community take part.
Their dress is so colorful that the ornaments are not very much required except
fragrant flowers.
Cheraw Dance
The Darlong reposes faith in after life. They believe that man is destined to
go to Haven after death. Incidentally, they think that if a pregnant woman dies,
she feels it very difficult, with all her physical strains, to track the long
journey to Heaven. Hence at the last stage of her pregnancy - in fact just at
the time or immediately prior to delivery all her relatives perform this 'Cheraw'
dance in-group throughout day and night so as to instill confidence in the mind
of that woman. They are firm in their belief that even if the woman dies at
this juncture. It will be possible for her to go Heaven with the courage and
confidence together with joy gained through the sound of bamboo as the rhythm
of the dance produced till her death.
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