Folk Songs and Dances | Uttarakhand State PSC (UKPSC): Preparation - UKPSC (Uttarakhand) PDF Download

 Page 1


Folk
 
Songs
 
and
 
Dances
Uttarakhand is famous for its numerous dance forms. Each of the Garhwal
and Kumaon regions possess their own individual and characteristic dance
forms, which are striking in their novelty.
Puja Folk Songs Uttarakhand
Puja folk songs of Uttarakhand are widely popular across the whole
Himalayan foothill. These are basically religious songs which are sung during
any holy ritual or when any particular God or Goddess is worshiped.There
are many puja folk songs in Uttarakhand as the tribes there worship various
Gods and Goddesses. Every family has a special deity of a God which they
worship, so while worshiping them, they sing these puja folk songs.
The puja folk songs of Uttarakhand vary from God to God and from
occasion to occasion. There are puja folk songs at Uttarakhand which include
‘Tantra’ and ‘Mantra’ to throw out the evil spirit from a human body.
Moreover, there are puja folk songs for calling up the spirits. One of such
song is Jaggar.Some of the most well known types of dance in the state of
Uttaranchal are:
Garhwal Dances:
 Langvir Nritya- This is an acrobatic dance practiced by men. Below a
long and anchored bamboo pole, musicians play the ‘Dhol’ and
‘Damana’ while a dancer acrobat rotates at the top participating in feats
using his hands and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal area.
 Barada Nati- It is a folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Chakrata
Tehsil in Dehradun, performed prior to religious celebrations or on
certain social occasions. Both boys and girls participate, attired in
colorful conventional clothes.
 Shotiya - Shotiya tribals have characteristic dances like ‘Dhurang, and
Dhuring’ linked with death rituals. The dance resembles the pastorals of
Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dances of Nagaland.
 Pandva Nritya- This is actually the straightforward relation of the story
of Mahabharata through dance and music, which usually takes place on
‘Dussehra’ and Diwali. It is practiced in Chamoli district and Pauri
Page 2


Folk
 
Songs
 
and
 
Dances
Uttarakhand is famous for its numerous dance forms. Each of the Garhwal
and Kumaon regions possess their own individual and characteristic dance
forms, which are striking in their novelty.
Puja Folk Songs Uttarakhand
Puja folk songs of Uttarakhand are widely popular across the whole
Himalayan foothill. These are basically religious songs which are sung during
any holy ritual or when any particular God or Goddess is worshiped.There
are many puja folk songs in Uttarakhand as the tribes there worship various
Gods and Goddesses. Every family has a special deity of a God which they
worship, so while worshiping them, they sing these puja folk songs.
The puja folk songs of Uttarakhand vary from God to God and from
occasion to occasion. There are puja folk songs at Uttarakhand which include
‘Tantra’ and ‘Mantra’ to throw out the evil spirit from a human body.
Moreover, there are puja folk songs for calling up the spirits. One of such
song is Jaggar.Some of the most well known types of dance in the state of
Uttaranchal are:
Garhwal Dances:
 Langvir Nritya- This is an acrobatic dance practiced by men. Below a
long and anchored bamboo pole, musicians play the ‘Dhol’ and
‘Damana’ while a dancer acrobat rotates at the top participating in feats
using his hands and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal area.
 Barada Nati- It is a folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Chakrata
Tehsil in Dehradun, performed prior to religious celebrations or on
certain social occasions. Both boys and girls participate, attired in
colorful conventional clothes.
 Shotiya - Shotiya tribals have characteristic dances like ‘Dhurang, and
Dhuring’ linked with death rituals. The dance resembles the pastorals of
Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dances of Nagaland.
 Pandva Nritya- This is actually the straightforward relation of the story
of Mahabharata through dance and music, which usually takes place on
‘Dussehra’ and Diwali. It is practiced in Chamoli district and Pauri
Garhwal.It is one of the most famous dance forms of the Garhwal dance
forms. Pandav Nritya chiefly belongs to the Chamoli district and the
districts of the Pauli Garhwal. Legend has it that the origins of Pandav
Nritya at Uttarakhand can be traced back to the period when Pandavas
were the rulers of Uttarakhand.
 The performance of Pandav Nriyta of Garhwal is intrinsically connected
to the festivities of the Hindu populace of the state. Pandav Nritya seems
to be almost synonymous with the ‘Dussehra’ and ‘Diwali’ of
Uttarakhand, because during this time Pandav Nritya performance
becomes mandatory
Bajuband - Bajuband of Uttarakhand is mellifluous folk song and has a deep
meaning. Bajuband is a romantic song of shepherds’ community and depicts
their love and sacrifice for their beloved. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is widely
known across the whole state. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is more like a
dialogue of love between a man and a woman or a boy and a girl. The music
of this folk song is very sweet and soothing. Bajuband is sung during
festivals or on any general occasion. People sing bajuband at Uttarakhand
even at the time of proposing their beloved.
Chakravyuh- This a powerful dance some singing presentation in
Garhwali style which depicts chakravyuh of Mahabharata. In this first a
chakravhuy is prepared on an open ground. A team performs role of Demon,
Abhimanyu, Kauravas, Pandavas and others like Guru Dronacharya,
Bheeshm and Subhadra. Another team sings in a powerful and realistice
terms with support of instruments like Harmonium, table, dhol-damau,
ransigha etc. it is believed that at the end of this performance rain happens
automatically.
Mangal - Mangal of Uttarakhand is the folk song of the Garhwal region of
Uttarakhand. These are the traditional songs that are sung when the wedding
rituals are on. These songs are considered to be sacred and sung along with
the shlokas chanted by the priests. Mangal means «good luck» and this is
why in Uttarakhand it is being sung during the wedding so that the new life
of the couple starts auspiciously. And this is why it is to be sung when the
holy priests are performing the holy rituals along with chanting holy scripts
from the holy writings written millions of years ago.
Painsara ‘Celebrating Death’- painsara is also called dance of death a
Page 3


Folk
 
Songs
 
and
 
Dances
Uttarakhand is famous for its numerous dance forms. Each of the Garhwal
and Kumaon regions possess their own individual and characteristic dance
forms, which are striking in their novelty.
Puja Folk Songs Uttarakhand
Puja folk songs of Uttarakhand are widely popular across the whole
Himalayan foothill. These are basically religious songs which are sung during
any holy ritual or when any particular God or Goddess is worshiped.There
are many puja folk songs in Uttarakhand as the tribes there worship various
Gods and Goddesses. Every family has a special deity of a God which they
worship, so while worshiping them, they sing these puja folk songs.
The puja folk songs of Uttarakhand vary from God to God and from
occasion to occasion. There are puja folk songs at Uttarakhand which include
‘Tantra’ and ‘Mantra’ to throw out the evil spirit from a human body.
Moreover, there are puja folk songs for calling up the spirits. One of such
song is Jaggar.Some of the most well known types of dance in the state of
Uttaranchal are:
Garhwal Dances:
 Langvir Nritya- This is an acrobatic dance practiced by men. Below a
long and anchored bamboo pole, musicians play the ‘Dhol’ and
‘Damana’ while a dancer acrobat rotates at the top participating in feats
using his hands and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal area.
 Barada Nati- It is a folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Chakrata
Tehsil in Dehradun, performed prior to religious celebrations or on
certain social occasions. Both boys and girls participate, attired in
colorful conventional clothes.
 Shotiya - Shotiya tribals have characteristic dances like ‘Dhurang, and
Dhuring’ linked with death rituals. The dance resembles the pastorals of
Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dances of Nagaland.
 Pandva Nritya- This is actually the straightforward relation of the story
of Mahabharata through dance and music, which usually takes place on
‘Dussehra’ and Diwali. It is practiced in Chamoli district and Pauri
Garhwal.It is one of the most famous dance forms of the Garhwal dance
forms. Pandav Nritya chiefly belongs to the Chamoli district and the
districts of the Pauli Garhwal. Legend has it that the origins of Pandav
Nritya at Uttarakhand can be traced back to the period when Pandavas
were the rulers of Uttarakhand.
 The performance of Pandav Nriyta of Garhwal is intrinsically connected
to the festivities of the Hindu populace of the state. Pandav Nritya seems
to be almost synonymous with the ‘Dussehra’ and ‘Diwali’ of
Uttarakhand, because during this time Pandav Nritya performance
becomes mandatory
Bajuband - Bajuband of Uttarakhand is mellifluous folk song and has a deep
meaning. Bajuband is a romantic song of shepherds’ community and depicts
their love and sacrifice for their beloved. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is widely
known across the whole state. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is more like a
dialogue of love between a man and a woman or a boy and a girl. The music
of this folk song is very sweet and soothing. Bajuband is sung during
festivals or on any general occasion. People sing bajuband at Uttarakhand
even at the time of proposing their beloved.
Chakravyuh- This a powerful dance some singing presentation in
Garhwali style which depicts chakravyuh of Mahabharata. In this first a
chakravhuy is prepared on an open ground. A team performs role of Demon,
Abhimanyu, Kauravas, Pandavas and others like Guru Dronacharya,
Bheeshm and Subhadra. Another team sings in a powerful and realistice
terms with support of instruments like Harmonium, table, dhol-damau,
ransigha etc. it is believed that at the end of this performance rain happens
automatically.
Mangal - Mangal of Uttarakhand is the folk song of the Garhwal region of
Uttarakhand. These are the traditional songs that are sung when the wedding
rituals are on. These songs are considered to be sacred and sung along with
the shlokas chanted by the priests. Mangal means «good luck» and this is
why in Uttarakhand it is being sung during the wedding so that the new life
of the couple starts auspiciously. And this is why it is to be sung when the
holy priests are performing the holy rituals along with chanting holy scripts
from the holy writings written millions of years ago.
Painsara ‘Celebrating Death’- painsara is also called dance of death a
dance in garhwal region performed at the death of a person as a funeral
traditionthat is believed to be 2000 years old. The musical instrument used in
this are dhol-dhamau (traditional drums) and ransingha ( a handcrafted
trumpet). It is long held belief in in the hills that death is a liberation from
sufferings, and therefore passing of a person specially an elderly is marked by
Painsara. The musicians who are reffered as bajgi conduct the performance as
per a set pattern not an arbitarary one. The bajgi perform standing as well as
sitting. They raise their drum over their head as well as sway it side to side
hile regylating the tempo of the beat and making sure that they are in perfect
synchrony with each other.
Another unique ritual during the ceremony is that a pagdi is placed on the
head of the body and a bhagwat gita placed in the hands and spectacles on the
eyes to give an impression that the deceased person is reading the religious
text on their last journey.
Kumauni Dances:
Chhapeli- Danced in couples, the female with a mirror in her left hand and a
colored handkerchief in the other. The male plays a Hudukka on his left
shoulder accompanied by others playing the Hurka, Manzira and Flute. The
dance, a duet delineates the joys of romance. The woman partner (sometimes
a young boy), with a smile and graceful waist movements, dances either in
praise of her beauty and charm or mocks her ways of expressing love.
Chholiya- Over a thousand years old, this dance originated with the
battling Khasiya Kingdom of Khasdesh, when marriages were performed at
sword point. Sustaining tradition, the Rajputs perform it as part of the
marriage procession proper. Flashing swords and shield in pairs, to the Dhol,
Turi and Ransingwar, they give the impression of a group advancing to
attack. The trained dancers hail from Champawat and Almora.
Chancheri - This is a group dance of Danpur Patti of Bageshwar District in
Kumaon, where men and women, dance in a semi-circle with slowly
increasing pace, expressing unbridled joy.
Basanti- Basanti is one of the most popular folk songs in Uttarakhand
which is sung for the arrival of the spring season when the flowers would
bloom and would add glare to the beauty of the hill state. Basanti of
Uttarakhand is very special song for all the citizens of the state. When the
spring is about to take over the Himalayan foothill, people all across the state
Page 4


Folk
 
Songs
 
and
 
Dances
Uttarakhand is famous for its numerous dance forms. Each of the Garhwal
and Kumaon regions possess their own individual and characteristic dance
forms, which are striking in their novelty.
Puja Folk Songs Uttarakhand
Puja folk songs of Uttarakhand are widely popular across the whole
Himalayan foothill. These are basically religious songs which are sung during
any holy ritual or when any particular God or Goddess is worshiped.There
are many puja folk songs in Uttarakhand as the tribes there worship various
Gods and Goddesses. Every family has a special deity of a God which they
worship, so while worshiping them, they sing these puja folk songs.
The puja folk songs of Uttarakhand vary from God to God and from
occasion to occasion. There are puja folk songs at Uttarakhand which include
‘Tantra’ and ‘Mantra’ to throw out the evil spirit from a human body.
Moreover, there are puja folk songs for calling up the spirits. One of such
song is Jaggar.Some of the most well known types of dance in the state of
Uttaranchal are:
Garhwal Dances:
 Langvir Nritya- This is an acrobatic dance practiced by men. Below a
long and anchored bamboo pole, musicians play the ‘Dhol’ and
‘Damana’ while a dancer acrobat rotates at the top participating in feats
using his hands and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal area.
 Barada Nati- It is a folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Chakrata
Tehsil in Dehradun, performed prior to religious celebrations or on
certain social occasions. Both boys and girls participate, attired in
colorful conventional clothes.
 Shotiya - Shotiya tribals have characteristic dances like ‘Dhurang, and
Dhuring’ linked with death rituals. The dance resembles the pastorals of
Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dances of Nagaland.
 Pandva Nritya- This is actually the straightforward relation of the story
of Mahabharata through dance and music, which usually takes place on
‘Dussehra’ and Diwali. It is practiced in Chamoli district and Pauri
Garhwal.It is one of the most famous dance forms of the Garhwal dance
forms. Pandav Nritya chiefly belongs to the Chamoli district and the
districts of the Pauli Garhwal. Legend has it that the origins of Pandav
Nritya at Uttarakhand can be traced back to the period when Pandavas
were the rulers of Uttarakhand.
 The performance of Pandav Nriyta of Garhwal is intrinsically connected
to the festivities of the Hindu populace of the state. Pandav Nritya seems
to be almost synonymous with the ‘Dussehra’ and ‘Diwali’ of
Uttarakhand, because during this time Pandav Nritya performance
becomes mandatory
Bajuband - Bajuband of Uttarakhand is mellifluous folk song and has a deep
meaning. Bajuband is a romantic song of shepherds’ community and depicts
their love and sacrifice for their beloved. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is widely
known across the whole state. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is more like a
dialogue of love between a man and a woman or a boy and a girl. The music
of this folk song is very sweet and soothing. Bajuband is sung during
festivals or on any general occasion. People sing bajuband at Uttarakhand
even at the time of proposing their beloved.
Chakravyuh- This a powerful dance some singing presentation in
Garhwali style which depicts chakravyuh of Mahabharata. In this first a
chakravhuy is prepared on an open ground. A team performs role of Demon,
Abhimanyu, Kauravas, Pandavas and others like Guru Dronacharya,
Bheeshm and Subhadra. Another team sings in a powerful and realistice
terms with support of instruments like Harmonium, table, dhol-damau,
ransigha etc. it is believed that at the end of this performance rain happens
automatically.
Mangal - Mangal of Uttarakhand is the folk song of the Garhwal region of
Uttarakhand. These are the traditional songs that are sung when the wedding
rituals are on. These songs are considered to be sacred and sung along with
the shlokas chanted by the priests. Mangal means «good luck» and this is
why in Uttarakhand it is being sung during the wedding so that the new life
of the couple starts auspiciously. And this is why it is to be sung when the
holy priests are performing the holy rituals along with chanting holy scripts
from the holy writings written millions of years ago.
Painsara ‘Celebrating Death’- painsara is also called dance of death a
dance in garhwal region performed at the death of a person as a funeral
traditionthat is believed to be 2000 years old. The musical instrument used in
this are dhol-dhamau (traditional drums) and ransingha ( a handcrafted
trumpet). It is long held belief in in the hills that death is a liberation from
sufferings, and therefore passing of a person specially an elderly is marked by
Painsara. The musicians who are reffered as bajgi conduct the performance as
per a set pattern not an arbitarary one. The bajgi perform standing as well as
sitting. They raise their drum over their head as well as sway it side to side
hile regylating the tempo of the beat and making sure that they are in perfect
synchrony with each other.
Another unique ritual during the ceremony is that a pagdi is placed on the
head of the body and a bhagwat gita placed in the hands and spectacles on the
eyes to give an impression that the deceased person is reading the religious
text on their last journey.
Kumauni Dances:
Chhapeli- Danced in couples, the female with a mirror in her left hand and a
colored handkerchief in the other. The male plays a Hudukka on his left
shoulder accompanied by others playing the Hurka, Manzira and Flute. The
dance, a duet delineates the joys of romance. The woman partner (sometimes
a young boy), with a smile and graceful waist movements, dances either in
praise of her beauty and charm or mocks her ways of expressing love.
Chholiya- Over a thousand years old, this dance originated with the
battling Khasiya Kingdom of Khasdesh, when marriages were performed at
sword point. Sustaining tradition, the Rajputs perform it as part of the
marriage procession proper. Flashing swords and shield in pairs, to the Dhol,
Turi and Ransingwar, they give the impression of a group advancing to
attack. The trained dancers hail from Champawat and Almora.
Chancheri - This is a group dance of Danpur Patti of Bageshwar District in
Kumaon, where men and women, dance in a semi-circle with slowly
increasing pace, expressing unbridled joy.
Basanti- Basanti is one of the most popular folk songs in Uttarakhand
which is sung for the arrival of the spring season when the flowers would
bloom and would add glare to the beauty of the hill state. Basanti of
Uttarakhand is very special song for all the citizens of the state. When the
spring is about to take over the Himalayan foothill, people all across the state
in various regions start singing Basanti in Uttarakhand.
Chhopati- of Uttarakhand is one of the finest romantic folk songs sung by
men and women in the form of question and answers. More often Chhopati
seems to be dialogue than a song. But the best part of it is that the whole folk
song is quite interesting to listen to. It is widely popular as it is one of the
best means of expressing one’s feeling about their beloved. Chhopati is in
wide practice in Rawain-Jaunpur in Tehri Garhwal. We can listen to Chhopati
from the Jaunpuri tribes there who perform these songs during several
occasions. The song is extremely pleasing to the ear and has various
instruments playing along with it to make it more melodious and rhythmic.
Chhura- Chhura of Uttarakhand is a beautifully written and widely popular
folk song for shepherds. For decades, chhura is being sung by the old
shepherds for their next generations as a piece of suggestion from their own
experience about grazing goats and sheep. The lyrics of Chhura bears deep
meaning and has an emotional aspect as the old men share their feelings with
the youth. Every time a young man is about to step into the shoes of a
shepherd, he is warned of the do’s and dont’s that a shepherd must follow by
his elders, who have been in this livelihood since a long time, through
chhura.
Chounphula- Chounphula is one of the very special folk song of this
Himalayan region as it is written to treasure the nature during various
occasions and seasons. It is accompanied by Chounphula dance forms which
are generally seasonal dance forms and add more color to the Chounphula
song which describes nature’s beauty.Mainly performed by women as they
revalue the classic beauty of the Himalayan foothills through their melodious
voice. They perform Chounphula during various seasons and festivals such as
Basant Panchmi to sankranti to Baisakhi.
Jaggar- Jaggar can be counted amongst one of the multi purpose folk
songs as it is used for spirit and ghost worship and it is also used as religious
hymns while offering prayers to various gods and goddesses. At times jaggar
of Uttarakhand is also accompanied by folk dances. But mostly jaggar at
Uttarakhand is performed to call spirits and ghosts of the people so that their
family members could meet them and speak to them. Around 50 jaggars in
Uttarakhand have been written down for various Gods and Goddesses, spirits
and ghosts. The most renowned jaggars of Uttarakhand are Ganganath,
Gorilla and Bholanath. Jagar is also associated with superstions in
Page 5


Folk
 
Songs
 
and
 
Dances
Uttarakhand is famous for its numerous dance forms. Each of the Garhwal
and Kumaon regions possess their own individual and characteristic dance
forms, which are striking in their novelty.
Puja Folk Songs Uttarakhand
Puja folk songs of Uttarakhand are widely popular across the whole
Himalayan foothill. These are basically religious songs which are sung during
any holy ritual or when any particular God or Goddess is worshiped.There
are many puja folk songs in Uttarakhand as the tribes there worship various
Gods and Goddesses. Every family has a special deity of a God which they
worship, so while worshiping them, they sing these puja folk songs.
The puja folk songs of Uttarakhand vary from God to God and from
occasion to occasion. There are puja folk songs at Uttarakhand which include
‘Tantra’ and ‘Mantra’ to throw out the evil spirit from a human body.
Moreover, there are puja folk songs for calling up the spirits. One of such
song is Jaggar.Some of the most well known types of dance in the state of
Uttaranchal are:
Garhwal Dances:
 Langvir Nritya- This is an acrobatic dance practiced by men. Below a
long and anchored bamboo pole, musicians play the ‘Dhol’ and
‘Damana’ while a dancer acrobat rotates at the top participating in feats
using his hands and feet. This dance is popular in Tehri Garhwal area.
 Barada Nati- It is a folk dance of the Jaunsar Bhawar region of Chakrata
Tehsil in Dehradun, performed prior to religious celebrations or on
certain social occasions. Both boys and girls participate, attired in
colorful conventional clothes.
 Shotiya - Shotiya tribals have characteristic dances like ‘Dhurang, and
Dhuring’ linked with death rituals. The dance resembles the pastorals of
Himachal Pradesh or the hunting dances of Nagaland.
 Pandva Nritya- This is actually the straightforward relation of the story
of Mahabharata through dance and music, which usually takes place on
‘Dussehra’ and Diwali. It is practiced in Chamoli district and Pauri
Garhwal.It is one of the most famous dance forms of the Garhwal dance
forms. Pandav Nritya chiefly belongs to the Chamoli district and the
districts of the Pauli Garhwal. Legend has it that the origins of Pandav
Nritya at Uttarakhand can be traced back to the period when Pandavas
were the rulers of Uttarakhand.
 The performance of Pandav Nriyta of Garhwal is intrinsically connected
to the festivities of the Hindu populace of the state. Pandav Nritya seems
to be almost synonymous with the ‘Dussehra’ and ‘Diwali’ of
Uttarakhand, because during this time Pandav Nritya performance
becomes mandatory
Bajuband - Bajuband of Uttarakhand is mellifluous folk song and has a deep
meaning. Bajuband is a romantic song of shepherds’ community and depicts
their love and sacrifice for their beloved. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is widely
known across the whole state. Bajuband of Uttarakhand is more like a
dialogue of love between a man and a woman or a boy and a girl. The music
of this folk song is very sweet and soothing. Bajuband is sung during
festivals or on any general occasion. People sing bajuband at Uttarakhand
even at the time of proposing their beloved.
Chakravyuh- This a powerful dance some singing presentation in
Garhwali style which depicts chakravyuh of Mahabharata. In this first a
chakravhuy is prepared on an open ground. A team performs role of Demon,
Abhimanyu, Kauravas, Pandavas and others like Guru Dronacharya,
Bheeshm and Subhadra. Another team sings in a powerful and realistice
terms with support of instruments like Harmonium, table, dhol-damau,
ransigha etc. it is believed that at the end of this performance rain happens
automatically.
Mangal - Mangal of Uttarakhand is the folk song of the Garhwal region of
Uttarakhand. These are the traditional songs that are sung when the wedding
rituals are on. These songs are considered to be sacred and sung along with
the shlokas chanted by the priests. Mangal means «good luck» and this is
why in Uttarakhand it is being sung during the wedding so that the new life
of the couple starts auspiciously. And this is why it is to be sung when the
holy priests are performing the holy rituals along with chanting holy scripts
from the holy writings written millions of years ago.
Painsara ‘Celebrating Death’- painsara is also called dance of death a
dance in garhwal region performed at the death of a person as a funeral
traditionthat is believed to be 2000 years old. The musical instrument used in
this are dhol-dhamau (traditional drums) and ransingha ( a handcrafted
trumpet). It is long held belief in in the hills that death is a liberation from
sufferings, and therefore passing of a person specially an elderly is marked by
Painsara. The musicians who are reffered as bajgi conduct the performance as
per a set pattern not an arbitarary one. The bajgi perform standing as well as
sitting. They raise their drum over their head as well as sway it side to side
hile regylating the tempo of the beat and making sure that they are in perfect
synchrony with each other.
Another unique ritual during the ceremony is that a pagdi is placed on the
head of the body and a bhagwat gita placed in the hands and spectacles on the
eyes to give an impression that the deceased person is reading the religious
text on their last journey.
Kumauni Dances:
Chhapeli- Danced in couples, the female with a mirror in her left hand and a
colored handkerchief in the other. The male plays a Hudukka on his left
shoulder accompanied by others playing the Hurka, Manzira and Flute. The
dance, a duet delineates the joys of romance. The woman partner (sometimes
a young boy), with a smile and graceful waist movements, dances either in
praise of her beauty and charm or mocks her ways of expressing love.
Chholiya- Over a thousand years old, this dance originated with the
battling Khasiya Kingdom of Khasdesh, when marriages were performed at
sword point. Sustaining tradition, the Rajputs perform it as part of the
marriage procession proper. Flashing swords and shield in pairs, to the Dhol,
Turi and Ransingwar, they give the impression of a group advancing to
attack. The trained dancers hail from Champawat and Almora.
Chancheri - This is a group dance of Danpur Patti of Bageshwar District in
Kumaon, where men and women, dance in a semi-circle with slowly
increasing pace, expressing unbridled joy.
Basanti- Basanti is one of the most popular folk songs in Uttarakhand
which is sung for the arrival of the spring season when the flowers would
bloom and would add glare to the beauty of the hill state. Basanti of
Uttarakhand is very special song for all the citizens of the state. When the
spring is about to take over the Himalayan foothill, people all across the state
in various regions start singing Basanti in Uttarakhand.
Chhopati- of Uttarakhand is one of the finest romantic folk songs sung by
men and women in the form of question and answers. More often Chhopati
seems to be dialogue than a song. But the best part of it is that the whole folk
song is quite interesting to listen to. It is widely popular as it is one of the
best means of expressing one’s feeling about their beloved. Chhopati is in
wide practice in Rawain-Jaunpur in Tehri Garhwal. We can listen to Chhopati
from the Jaunpuri tribes there who perform these songs during several
occasions. The song is extremely pleasing to the ear and has various
instruments playing along with it to make it more melodious and rhythmic.
Chhura- Chhura of Uttarakhand is a beautifully written and widely popular
folk song for shepherds. For decades, chhura is being sung by the old
shepherds for their next generations as a piece of suggestion from their own
experience about grazing goats and sheep. The lyrics of Chhura bears deep
meaning and has an emotional aspect as the old men share their feelings with
the youth. Every time a young man is about to step into the shoes of a
shepherd, he is warned of the do’s and dont’s that a shepherd must follow by
his elders, who have been in this livelihood since a long time, through
chhura.
Chounphula- Chounphula is one of the very special folk song of this
Himalayan region as it is written to treasure the nature during various
occasions and seasons. It is accompanied by Chounphula dance forms which
are generally seasonal dance forms and add more color to the Chounphula
song which describes nature’s beauty.Mainly performed by women as they
revalue the classic beauty of the Himalayan foothills through their melodious
voice. They perform Chounphula during various seasons and festivals such as
Basant Panchmi to sankranti to Baisakhi.
Jaggar- Jaggar can be counted amongst one of the multi purpose folk
songs as it is used for spirit and ghost worship and it is also used as religious
hymns while offering prayers to various gods and goddesses. At times jaggar
of Uttarakhand is also accompanied by folk dances. But mostly jaggar at
Uttarakhand is performed to call spirits and ghosts of the people so that their
family members could meet them and speak to them. Around 50 jaggars in
Uttarakhand have been written down for various Gods and Goddesses, spirits
and ghosts. The most renowned jaggars of Uttarakhand are Ganganath,
Gorilla and Bholanath. Jagar is also associated with superstions in
Uttarakhand where people believe that some god or ghost comes in the body
of the performing jagar. They use it to cure many diseases. However with
growing education and awareness people are adopting modern medical
science.
Jhumeila- Jhumeila is sung to praise the bounty nature for spreading so
much of natural wonder all across the Himalayan foothill. Many a times,
Jhumeila is accompanied by dance which is also known as Jhumeila dance.
The Jhumeila song and dance is mainly held for women. Jhumeila is
performed by women, though at times men also join them, from all the
communities during all the major fairs and festivals - be it Baisakhi, Guru
Poornima, Makar Sakranti or any other festival related to the nature. Children
in their colorful garments also come and enjoy the fervor of Jhumeila.
Khuded - Khuded is one of the most famous folk songs of Uttarakhand
which describes the misery and pain of a lady who has been living apart from
her husband. Khuded is very painful and emotional song. It echoes the
suffering of the woman who is left alone after her husband leaves her and
goes to another place in search of a job. Khuded depicts the life of a low
income family where the husband has to move out in search of a better job so
that he can run his family, the one which he has to leave behind. Each and
every word of the folk song has deep pathos attached to it.
Fag/ Shagun- this is the folk song performed at various functions like
marriage, namkaran sanskar, janeu, etc. in this two generally elderly ladies
sing a song called Fag or Shagun in synchrony. These are basically wishes
from the god for one whose marriage of other ceremony is being performed.
Shaguna de song has become famous and got viral on social media since
2018-19.
Bhen- a folk dance performed by women during special ceremonies like
marriage. In this women folks hold hands in a particular manner and walk
around a circle in a special step pattern. Evey two step ahead is followed by a
step back. Unique Kumauni songs are sung by performers during this dance.
Jhoda- this is another folk dance of Kumaun performed by women during
special ceremonies and functions like marriage, and other village gatherings.
It is similar to Bhen but different in the terms that it involves jumping one
step ahead in place of specific leg moments performed in Bhen. Its is more
powerful and aggressive in comparison to Bhen.
Kumauni Khadi and Baithaki Holi- Holi is celebrated with gaity and