Tricks to Remember Important Folk Dances for Competitive Exams: A Complete Easy Guide With 100 MCQs

Table of Contents

9. Keisabadi

Community/Tribe: Men of the Sambalpur region.
Occasion/Festival: Social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Based on the love stories of Radha and Krishna.
Costumes and Props: Each dancer carries a stick (about 2 feet long).
Music/Instruments: Dhol and rhythmic striking of sticks.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Social / Stick Dance.
Important Facts: Dancers sing and strike their sticks against their neighbor’s sticks in a highly coordinated rhythm.

10. Pala and Dasakathia

Community/Tribe: Professional folk troupes.
Occasion/Festival: Village fairs and social functions.
Theme/Purpose: Storytelling through song, satire, and verse.
Costumes and Props: The lead singer carries a whisk (Chamara); in Dasakathia, they use two wooden clappers.
Music/Instruments: Mridangam/Dhol and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Narrative / Folk Theater.
Important Facts: These are ballad-style performances that combine local history with mythology. Dasakathia is particularly popular in Ganjam.

Folk Dances of Punjab

Code: B, G, J, M, K, G, S, L, J, T, D.

Story: Bhangra Groups Jump with Moves, Kicking Ground, Singing Loud, Joyful Tunes with Dhol.

1. Bhangra

Name: Bhangra
Community/Tribe: Farmers and the general public.
Occasion/Festival: Originally performed during Baisakhi (harvest festival); now at all celebrations.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating a successful harvest and the joy of life.
Costumes and Props: Vibrant Vardi (Kurta, Chadar, and Vest) and a large Pagri (turban) with a Turla (fan-like tip).
Music/Instruments: Dhol (double-headed drum), Chimta, and Algoze.
Gender Participation: Traditionally Men.
Type: Seasonal / Social.
Important Facts: It is arguably the most famous Indian folk dance globally. It involves vigorous kicks, leaps, and body bends to the “Bhangra rhythm.”

2. Gidda

Name: Gidda
Community/Tribe: Women of Punjab.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings, Teeyan (monsoon festival), and harvest.
Theme/Purpose: Social interaction; expressing feminine grace, wit, and daily life experiences.
Costumes and Props: Colorful Salwar Kameez or Sharara and heavy silver jewelry.
Music/Instruments: Rhythmic hand-clapping and the Dholak.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Social.
Important Facts: It is often accompanied by Bolis (short folk couplets) that touch upon topics like family, mother-in-law rivalries, and love.

3. Jhumar

Name: Jhumar
Community/Tribe: People of the Sandalbar region (now mostly in Pakistan, but widely practiced in Indian Punjab).
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and social festivities.
Theme/Purpose: A dance of “ecstasy” or “spinning.”
Costumes and Props: Traditional Punjabi dhotis and turbans.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and slow, rhythmic singing.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Social.
Important Facts: Unlike Bhangra, Jhumar is much slower and more graceful. Dancers move in a circle around a single drummer, mimicking the swaying of corn or trees.

4. Malwai Gidda

Name: Malwai Gidda
Community/Tribe: Men of the Malwa region.
Occasion/Festival: Festivals and village fairs.
Theme/Purpose: Social gathering and display of local musical talent.
Costumes and Props: Traditional white attire; dancers use a variety of instruments like Chimta, Kato, and Sapp.
Music/Instruments: Chimta (fire tongs with bells), Tumbi, and Dholak.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Social.
Important Facts: Unlike the women’s Gidda, this version focuses heavily on the use of traditional folk instruments and high-pitched Bolis.

5. Kikli

Name: Kikli
Community/Tribe: Young girls.
Occasion/Festival: General social play and festivals like Teeyan.
Theme/Purpose: Playfulness and physical fun.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Phulkari dupattas.
Music/Instruments: Singing folk songs in a specific fast-paced rhythm.
Gender Participation: Women (Girls).
Type: Social / Game-dance.
Important Facts: Two girls cross their arms, hold each other’s hands firmly, and spin rapidly in circles with their feet touching.

6. Gatka

Name: Gatka
Community/Tribe: Sikh community (Nihangs).
Occasion/Festival: Hola Mohalla, Gurpurabs, and religious processions.
Theme/Purpose: Martial defense and spiritual discipline.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Sikh warrior attire (Bana) and wooden sticks (Gatka) or swords and shields.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Nagara.
Gender Participation: Primarily Men (though women increasingly participate).
Type: Martial Art / Folk.
Important Facts: While a martial art, it is performed with rhythmic grace during festivals, showcasing incredible speed and coordination.

7. Sammi

Name: Sammi
Community/Tribe: Tribal women of the Sandalbar region (Baazigars, Rai, etc.).
Occasion/Festival: Social celebrations.
Theme/Purpose: Legend of the princess Sammi who pined for her lover.
Costumes and Props: Brightly colored kurtas and flowing skirts (Lehngas).
Music/Instruments: No instruments; dancers create rhythm by clapping and hitting their sides.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Tribal / Narrative.
Important Facts: It has a distinct circular movement and a very somber, soulful vocal accompaniment compared to the energetic Gidda.

8. Luddi

Name: Luddi
Community/Tribe: General public.
Occasion/Festival: Victory celebrations or successful completions of tasks.
Theme/Purpose: Celebration of victory and peace.
Costumes and Props: Loose shirts and turbans.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and clapping.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Social / Victory.
Important Facts: The dance is characterized by one hand placed at the back and the other in front, mimicking the movement of a snake or a graceful wave.

9. Jago

Name: Jago
Community/Tribe: Relatives of the bride or groom.
Occasion/Festival: The night before a wedding.
Theme/Purpose: To “wake up” the neighbors and invite them to the wedding festivities.
Costumes and Props: Women carry a decorated copper pot (Ghaggar) with lit oil lamps on their heads.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and loud, festive singing.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Ritual / Social.
Important Facts: It is a noisy, joyous procession where people sing satirical and funny Bolis directed at family members.

10. Teeyan

Name: Teeyan
Community/Tribe: Married and unmarried women.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the Monsoon (Sawan) month.
Theme/Purpose: Welcoming the rains and celebrating a woman’s return to her paternal home.
Costumes and Props: Best festive wear and swings (Pippal-Pheng).
Music/Instruments: Gidda songs and Dholak.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Seasonal / Social.
Important Facts: Teeyan is a festival that centers entirely around female bonding and the Gidda dance.

11. Dhola

Name: Dhola
Community/Tribe: Nomadic tribes and rural folk.
Occasion/Festival: Community gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Narrative storytelling of legends and romance.
Costumes and Props: Traditional rural attire.
Music/Instruments: Dholak and flute.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Narrative.
Important Facts: Similar to the Bhavai or Maanch, it is a dance-song form that relies heavily on the vocal narration of the performer.

Folk Dances of Rajasthan

Code: G, K, B, K, T, G, F, C, K, C, W.

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Story: Ghoomar Queens Balance Kalash, Twirling Gracefully, Folk Colors Keep Culture Warm.

1. Ghoomar

Community/Tribe: Originally by the Bhil tribe; later adopted by the Rajput royalty.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings, Holi, and Gangaur.
Theme/Purpose: A dance of grace and femininity; welcoming a new bride or celebrating womanhood.
Costumes and Props: Women wear the Ghaghra (a long, flaring skirt) and a veil (Odhni).
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Manjira.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Social / Royal.
Important Facts: It is the State Dance of Rajasthan. The beauty lies in the rhythmic spinning (Ghoomna) which showcases the wide flare of the skirt.

2. Kalbelia

Community/Tribe: Kalbelia (Snake Charmer) tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Joyous social occasions.
Theme/Purpose: Celebration of the tribe’s nomadic identity and connection with snakes.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear flowing black skirts with intricate silver embroidery and mirror work.
Music/Instruments: Pungi (woodwind) and Khanjari.
Gender Participation: Women (Men play the instruments).
Type: Tribal / UNESCO Heritage.
Important Facts: Inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list. The movements are incredibly fluid, mimicking the slithering of a cobra.

3. Bhavai

Community/Tribe: Jat, Bhil, Raigar, and Meena communities.
Occasion/Festival: Cultural fairs and weddings.
Theme/Purpose: Display of extreme physical skill and balance.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance 7 to 9 brass pitchers on their heads.
Music/Instruments: Pakhawaj, Dholak, and Jhanjhar.
Gender Participation: Primarily Women.
Type: Skill-based / Professional Folk.
Important Facts: While balancing the pots, dancers perform risky feats like dancing on the edges of a sword, on broken glass, or on the rim of a brass plate.

4. Kachhi Ghodi

Community/Tribe: Communities of the Shekhawati region.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and social festivals.
Theme/Purpose: Depicting the stories of local bandits and heroic warriors.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear a dummy horse around their waists and carry swords.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Tasha.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Martial / Narrative.
Important Facts: The name translates to “Dummy Mare.” Dancers perform mock-fights and intricate footwork that mimics the trotting of a horse.

5. Terah Taali

Community/Tribe: Kamad community.
Occasion/Festival: Dedicated to the folk deity Baba Ramdev.
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; a ritual to please the saint.
Costumes and Props: Dancers tie 13 Manjiras (cymbals) to their bodies (mostly legs and arms).
Music/Instruments: Manjira and Ektara.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Ritual / Religious.
Important Facts: Dancers perform while sitting on the floor. They strike the tied cymbals with hand-held ones in a fast, rhythmic sequence, often holding a sword between their teeth.

6. Gair Dance

Community/Tribe: Bhil community.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during Holi.
Theme/Purpose: Social celebration and community bonding.
Costumes and Props: Men wear long, pleated tunics and carry wooden sticks.
Music/Instruments: Large drums, Dholak, and Flute.
Gender Participation: Both (mostly men).
Type: Tribal / Seasonal.
Important Facts: Dancers move in a large circle, striking their sticks together. There are variations like Dandi Gair and Geendad (popular in Shekhawati).

7. Fire Dance (Agni Nritya)

Community/Tribe: Jasnathis of Bikaner and Churu.
Occasion/Festival: Large religious gatherings and melas.
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; showing the power of faith over fire.
Costumes and Props: Large bed of burning coals and embers.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Nagada.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Ritual / Thrill.
Important Facts: Dancers perform atop a pit of live embers, kicking the coals and even taking them into their mouths, yet they remain miraculously unburnt.

8. Chari Dance

Community/Tribe: Gujjar community of Kishangarh and Ajmer.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and the birth of a son.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the ritual of collecting water.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance a brass pot (Chari) with a lit cotton seed fire on their heads.
Music/Instruments: Dholak, Bankia, and Nagada.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Social / Ritual.
Important Facts: It requires great poise to keep the fire lit and the pot balanced while performing complex footwork.

9. Kathputli (Puppet Dance)

Community/Tribe: Bhatt community.
Occasion/Festival: Village fairs and evening entertainment.
Theme/Purpose: Storytelling; often depicting the life of legendary hero Amar Singh Rathore.
Costumes and Props: Wood and cloth puppets controlled by strings.
Music/Instruments: Dholak and a unique whistle used by the puppeteer.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Puppetry / Folk Theater.
Important Facts: Rajasthan is the birthplace of Indian puppetry. The puppeteer uses the whistle to give the puppets a “voice” while narrating history.

10. Chang (Dhamal) Dance

Community/Tribe: Rural folk of Shekhawati.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the month of Phalgun (Holi).
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the end of winter and the joy of Holi.
Costumes and Props: Dancers carry a Chang (a large, flat tambourine).
Music/Instruments: The rhythm is created by the Chang and Dholak.
Gender Participation: Men (some dress in female attire).
Type: Seasonal / Social.
Important Facts: It is a rhythmic, fast-paced dance where the sound of the Chang dominates the atmosphere.

11. Walar Dance

Community/Tribe: Garasia Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Festivals like Gangaur and Holi.
Theme/Purpose: Social celebration.
Costumes and Props: Traditional tribal wear; no musical instruments are used.
Music/Instruments: Only rhythmic hand-clapping and singing.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Tribal.
Important Facts: It is unique because it is performed without any background music. Dancers move in two semi-circles with extreme grace and synchronization.

Folk Dances of Sikkim

Code: C, S, Y, M, M, T, R, Z, K, D, G.

Story: Calm Sikkim Youth Meet Monks, Turning Rhythms, Zestful Kinds Dance Gently.

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1. Chu Faat Dance

Community/Tribe: Lepcha Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during Pang Lhabsol.
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; honoring Mount Kanchenjunga and its four associate peaks (Chu: snowy range, Faat: worship).
Costumes and Props: Traditional Lepcha attire; dancers carry butter lamps and bamboo leaves.
Music/Instruments: Traditional drums and flutes.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Ritual / Religious.
Important Facts: It is one of the oldest folk dances of Sikkim, where the five peaks are represented through specific formations.

2. Singhi Chham (Snow Lion Dance)

Community/Tribe: Bhutia community.
Occasion/Festival: Major cultural festivals and Pang Lhabsol.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the Snow Lion, a cultural symbol of the state and a guardian of the peaks.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear elaborate lion costumes made of white fur with blue manes.
Music/Instruments: Traditional drums and cymbals.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Masked Dance / Ritual.
Important Facts: Two dancers usually fit into one lion costume to mimic the movements of the mythical beast. It symbolizes strength and purity.

3. Yak Chham

Community/Tribe: Bhutia community.
Occasion/Festival: Cultural fairs and festivals.
Theme/Purpose: Honoring the Yak, which is vital for the survival of people in high altitudes.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear a Yak-shaped costume; the lead dancer usually acts as the herdsman.
Music/Instruments: Traditional Buddhist monastic instruments.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Occupational / Folk.
Important Facts: It depicts the relationship between the mountain people and their livestock, showing how the Yak helps in carrying loads and providing milk.

4. Maruni Dance

Community/Tribe: Nepali community.
Occasion/Festival: Tihar (Diwali) and weddings.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the victory of good over evil.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear colorful traditional Nepali dresses and heavy ornaments.
Music/Instruments: Madal (drum) is the soul of this dance.
Gender Participation: Both (traditionally men dressed as women).
Type: Social / Religious.
Important Facts: It is one of the oldest and most popular dances of the Nepali diaspora. A “Dhatuwar” (clown/jester) often accompanies the dancers to provide humor.

5. Mask Dance (Enchey Chaam)

Community/Tribe: Buddhist Monks (Lamas).
Occasion/Festival: Performed at monasteries like Enchey and Rumtek.
Theme/Purpose: Warding off evil spirits and bringing peace to the community.
Costumes and Props: Magnificent wooden masks and brocade silk robes.
Music/Instruments: Long horns (Dungchen), cymbals, and drums.
Gender Participation: Men (Monks).
Type: Ritual / Religious.
Important Facts: The movements are slow and meditative, intended to represent the destruction of the ego and negative forces.

6. Tamang Selo

Community/Tribe: Tamang community.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Expressing joy, sorrow, and the philosophy of life.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Tamang dress and a Damphu (hand drum).
Music/Instruments: Damphu and Tungna.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Social / Tribal.
Important Facts: It is also known as the “Damphu Dance.” The songs are often witty and performed in a question-and-answer format.

7. Rechungma Dance

Community/Tribe: Bhutia community.
Occasion/Festival: Social gatherings to welcome honored guests.
Theme/Purpose: Expressing gratitude and seeking blessings from the deities.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Bhutia silk attire (Bakhu).
Music/Instruments: Folk singing and rhythmic clapping.
Gender Participation: Primarily Women.
Type: Social / Devotional.
Important Facts: It is characterized by slow, graceful hand movements and steady footwork.

8. Zo-Mal-Lok

Community/Tribe: Lepcha Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Harvest season.
Theme/Purpose: To ease the physical labor of sowing and harvesting crops.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Lepcha work clothes.
Music/Instruments: Traditional Lepcha flutes and drums.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Agricultural.
Important Facts: Dancers mimic the actions of planting and harvesting rice, turning hard manual labor into a rhythmic community celebration.

9. Khukuri Dance

Community/Tribe: Gorkha/Nepali community.
Occasion/Festival: Cultural festivals and martial displays.
Theme/Purpose: Display of bravery, strength, and the warrior spirit.
Costumes and Props: Dancers carry the Khukuri (traditional curved knife).
Music/Instruments: Rhythmic drums and martial chants.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Martial / Heroic.
Important Facts: It showcases the skill and pride of the Gorkha soldiers, featuring fast-paced movements and mock-combat.

10. Denyong-Neh-Na-Na

Community/Tribe: Bhutia community.
Occasion/Festival: Social events.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the natural beauty of the high-altitude valleys and peaks of Sikkim.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Bhutia attire.
Music/Instruments: Folk songs and traditional instruments.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Social / Aesthetic.
Important Facts: It is a group dance where participants link hands and move in circular patterns, singing about the landscape.

11. Gha To Kito

Community/Tribe: Bhutia community.
Occasion/Festival: Cultural programs.
Theme/Purpose: Narrative song and dance about the history and customs of the Bhutia people.
Costumes and Props: Ethnic Bhutia costumes.
Music/Instruments: Traditional percussion.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Narrative / Social.
Important Facts: It is a lively performance that combines storytelling with rhythmic steps to preserve the community’s oral history.

Folk Dances of Tamil Nadu

Code: K, K, O, T, K, P, M, S, P, V, B

Story: Kummi Kids On Temple Grounds, Karagattam Performers Move Smoothly, People Vibrate with Beats.

1. Karagattam

Community/Tribe: Rural agricultural communities.
Occasion/Festival: Temple festivals, primarily dedicated to the Goddess Mariamman.
Theme/Purpose: Ritualistic; praying for rain and protection against diseases.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance a decorated metal pot (Karagam) on their heads. The pot is topped with a cone of flowers and a paper parrot.
Music/Instruments: Naiyandi Melam and Thavil.
Gender Participation: Both (mostly women).
Type: Ritual / Skill-based.
Important Facts: Dancers must perform complex steps and acrobatic feats (like picking up a coin with their eyelids) without letting the pot fall or using their hands.

2. Kavadi Aattam

Community/Tribe: Devotees of Lord Murugan.
Occasion/Festival: Thaipusam and Panguni Uthiram.
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; “Kavadi” means a burden, representing the devotee’s offering to the God.
Costumes and Props: A wooden pole decorated with peacock feathers and flowers (Kavadi).
Music/Instruments: Pambai, Udukkai, and Thavil.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Ritual / Religious.
Important Facts: It is often performed as part of a pilgrimage. The dance involves balancing the Kavadi on the shoulders, head, or hips while moving in a trance-like state.

3. Oyilattam

Name: Oyilattam (Dance of Grace).
Community/Tribe: Rural folk of Madurai and southern districts.
Occasion/Festival: Harvest festivals and temple functions.
Theme/Purpose: Storytelling; often depicting scenes from the Ramayana or local legends.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear colorful dhotis and turbans; they hold colorful handkerchiefs in their hands.
Music/Instruments: Thavil and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Traditionally Men.
Type: Narrative / Social.
Important Facts: The beauty of the dance lies in the synchronized waving of the handkerchiefs and rhythmic footwork.

4. Thappattam (Parai Aattam)

Community/Tribe: Dalit and other marginalized communities.
Occasion/Festival: Funerals, weddings, and social protests.
Theme/Purpose: Historically for announcements and rituals; now a symbol of social identity.
Costumes and Props: Dancers carry the Parai (a flat, circular skin drum).
Music/Instruments: The rhythm is created by the Parai drum itself using two sticks.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Percussive / Social.
Important Facts: The Parai is one of the oldest percussion instruments in India. The dance is high-energy and characterized by rapid, powerful drumming.

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