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

Table of Contents

Folk Dances of Tripura

Code: H, G, L, B, H, W, C, W, S, G

Story: Hills Give Life, Bamboo Huts Welcome, Children Wave Steps Gently.

1. Hojagiri Dance

Community/Tribe: Reang (Bru) Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the Hojagiri Festival (Laxmi Puja).
Theme/Purpose: Worship of Goddess Mailuma (Laxmi) for a bountiful harvest.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance earthen pitchers on their heads and bottles topped with lighted lamps on the pitchers. They also stand on a brass plate.
Music/Instruments: Khamb (drum) and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Women and young girls.
Type: Ritual / Skill-based.
Important Facts: It is world-renowned for its display of balance. While the upper body remains almost still to balance the props, the lower body performs intricate rhythmic movements.

2. Garia Dance

Community/Tribe: Tripuri and Jamatia tribes.
Occasion/Festival: Garia Puja (April, marking the beginning of the New Year).
Theme/Purpose: To please Lord Garia for peace, wealth, and children.
Costumes and Props: Traditional tribal attire; participants carry a symbolic bamboo pole.
Music/Instruments: Khamb, Flute, and Sarinda.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Ritual / Agricultural.
Important Facts: The dance is an integral part of a week-long festival. Dancers go from house to house in the village, performing and collecting offerings.

3. Lebang Boomani Dance

Community/Tribe: Tripuri community.
Occasion/Festival: Post-harvest season (monsoon).
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the catching of “Lebang” (colorful insects) that visit the fields.
Costumes and Props: Men carry small bamboo sticks to produce a clicking sound.
Music/Instruments: Khamb and bamboo clappers.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Harvest / Social.
Important Facts: The clicking sound of the bamboo sticks mimics the sound used to lure the insects out of their hiding spots so the women can catch them.

4. Bizu Dance

Community/Tribe: Chakma Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Bizu Festival (Chaitra Sankranti/New Year).
Theme/Purpose: Bidding farewell to the old year and welcoming the new one.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Chakma hand-woven dresses.
Music/Instruments: Bajantana (traditional flute) and drums.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Seasonal / Social.
Important Facts: It is a high-energy dance characterized by rhythmic swaying and the use of unique local musical instruments.

5. Hai-Hak Dance

Community/Tribe: Halam community.
Occasion/Festival: Post-harvest festival.
Theme/Purpose: Offering gratitude to Goddess Laxmi after the gathering of the harvest.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Halam tribal ornaments and woven wraps.
Music/Instruments: Drums and flutes.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Ritual / Agricultural.
Important Facts: The dance is a social gathering where the community reflects on the hard work put into the Jhum fields.

6. Wangala Dance (Tripura Version)

Community/Tribe: Garo Tribe (settled in Tripura).
Occasion/Festival: Post-harvest.
Theme/Purpose: Honoring the Sun God for fertility and crops.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Garo dresses and headgear.
Music/Instruments: Long drums and brass gongs.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Harvest / Ritual.
Important Facts: Similar to the Meghalaya version, it is the most important festival for the Garo people, featuring rhythmic movements that mimic the behavior of animals.

7. Cheraw Dance (Tripura Style)

Community/Tribe: Darlong and Lushai communities.
Occasion/Festival: Social gatherings and festivals.
Theme/Purpose: Celebration of joy and community bonding.
Costumes and Props: Horizontal and vertical bamboo staves.
Music/Instruments: The rhythmic clashing of bamboos.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Skill-based.
Important Facts: While famously associated with Mizoram, the Lushai and Darlong tribes of Tripura also perform this bamboo dance with great skill.

8. Welcome Dance

Community/Tribe: Lusai (Mizo) and other Kukichin tribes.
Occasion/Festival: Welcoming guests or dignitaries.
Theme/Purpose: Hospitality and showing respect to visitors.
Costumes and Props: Traditional colorful shawls and headgear.
Music/Instruments: Folk songs and drums.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Social / Ceremonial.
Important Facts: It is a graceful and slow-paced dance intended to make the guests feel at home.

9. Sangrai Dance

Community/Tribe: Mog Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Sangrai Festival (Buddhist New Year).
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the New Year and seeking blessings.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Mog attire.
Music/Instruments: Local flutes and drums.
Gender Participation: Both (mostly the younger generation).
Type: Religious / Social.
Important Facts: It involves a ritual where people carry pitchers of water to wash the images of Buddha, followed by the dance.

10. Gajan Dance

Community/Tribe: Rural Bengali and tribal communities.
Occasion/Festival: Charak/Gajan Festival (mid-April).
Theme/Purpose: Dedicated to Lord Shiva; seeking his blessings for a good rain and harvest.
Costumes and Props: Dancers dress as Shiva, Parvati, or other mythological characters.
Music/Instruments: Dhak and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Ritual / Folk Theater.
Important Facts: It often involves intense physical penance and theatrical storytelling of the life of Shiva.

Folk Dances of Uttar Pradesh

Code: R, C, K, N, R, N, D, D, K, J, P

Story: Raas Celebrations with Krishna, Nights Resound, Dancers Dance, Kanha Joyfully Performs.

1. Raslila

Community/Tribe: Brajwasi community (Mathura/Vrindavan).
Occasion/Festival: Janmashtami and Holi.
Theme/Purpose: Depicting the divine love stories of Radha and Krishna.
Costumes and Props: Elaborate traditional silk attire; the lead performers wear crowns and jewelry representing deities.
Music/Instruments: Flute, Dholak, and Manjira.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Dance-Drama / Devotional.
Important Facts: It is deeply rooted in the Bhakti movement. The performance usually combines dialogue, song, and stylized dance movements.

2. Charkula Dance

Community/Tribe: Women of the Braj region.
Occasion/Festival: Performed on the third day after Holi (Dooj).
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the birth of Radha; also symbolizes victory and joy.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance a multi-tiered wooden pyramid (Charkula) with 108 lit oil lamps on their heads.
Music/Instruments: Rasia songs (folk songs of Braj) and Dholak.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Ritual / Skill-based.
Important Facts: Dancers must maintain perfect balance while performing swift turns. The heavy wooden structure represents the wheel of a chariot.

3. Khyal

Community/Tribe: Local folk troupes across the state.
Occasion/Festival: Village fairs and social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Narrative storytelling of historical heroes, myths, and social issues.
Costumes and Props: Highly theatrical costumes and makeup.
Music/Instruments: Nagada (lead instrument) and Harmonium.
Gender Participation: Men (traditionally play female roles).
Type: Folk Theater.
Important Facts: “Khyal” translates to “imagination.” Each region has its own style, such as the Agra Khyal and Hathras Khyal.

4. Nautanki

Community/Tribe: Professional artist troupes.
Occasion/Festival: Social events and festivals.
Theme/Purpose: Secular entertainment; stories range from romance (Laila-Majnu) to contemporary social satire.
Costumes and Props: Bright, shimmering costumes and stage props.
Music/Instruments: Nagada and Dholak.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Folk Theater / Musical.
Important Facts: It is one of the most popular forms of entertainment in North India. It relies heavily on witty dialogues and high-pitched singing.

5. Rai Dance

Community/Tribe: People of the Bundelkhand region.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and the birth of a child.
Theme/Purpose: Celebration and social prestige.
Costumes and Props: Traditional festive attire; the lead dancer is known as the “Bedia.”
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Nagada.
Gender Participation: Primarily Women.
Type: Social.
Important Facts: It is performed at a very fast pace, with the beat of the drum dictating the speed of the dancer’s footwork and spins.

6. Nautanki (Braj region – Holi version)

Community/Tribe: Local villagers.
Occasion/Festival: During the month of Phalgun (Holi).
Theme/Purpose: Playful interaction and celebrating the arrival of spring.
Costumes and Props: Traditional rural wear.
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Seasonal / Social.
Important Facts: Often involves the singing of “Hori” songs which describe the playful antics of Krishna and the Gopis.

7. Dhobiya Dance

Community/Tribe: Dhobi (Washermen) community.
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and births.
Theme/Purpose: Ritualistic; seeking blessings for the newborn or the couple.
Costumes and Props: One dancer often dresses as a donkey using a dummy prop.
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Occupational / Social.
Important Facts: It depicts the relationship between the washerman and his donkey, blending comedy with rhythmic movements.

8. Dadra

Community/Tribe: Primarily the court dancers of Lucknow/Awadh (historically).
Occasion/Festival: Social gatherings and musical evenings.
Theme/Purpose: Expressing romantic longing and human emotions.
Costumes and Props: Sophisticated Awadhi attire (Gharara/Anarkali).
Music/Instruments: Tabla and Harmonium.
Gender Participation: Both (often female-centric).
Type: Semi-Classical / Folk.
Important Facts: It is closely related to the Dadra style of Hindustani classical music, emphasizing facial expressions and hand gestures.

9. Karma Dance (UP Version)

Community/Tribe: Tribes of Sonbhadra and Mirzapur districts (Gond, Kharwar).
Occasion/Festival: Karma Festival (Autumn).
Theme/Purpose: Worship of the Karma tree for prosperity and destiny.
Costumes and Props: Traditional tribal jewelry.
Music/Instruments: Mandar (drum) and Cymbals.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Ritual / Tribal.
Important Facts: Similar to the version in Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand, it is a significant cultural marker for the tribal populations in southern UP.

10. Jogini Dance

Community/Tribe: Local folk artists in the Awadh region.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during Holi.
Theme/Purpose: Social entertainment and comedy.
Costumes and Props: Men dress in female attire and act as “Joginis” (female ascetics).
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Majira.
Gender Participation: Men (cross-dressed).
Type: Social / Satirical.
Important Facts: It is a humorous performance involving witty banter and light-hearted dancing.

11. Pai-Danda

Community/Tribe: Ahir (Shepherd) community of Bundelkhand.
Occasion/Festival: Festivals and social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Display of physical agility and strength.
Costumes and Props: Each dancer carries a stick (Danda).
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Nagada.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Stick Dance / Martial.
Important Facts: Very similar to the Dandiya of Gujarat; dancers perform complex movements while striking their sticks in rhythm.

Folk Dances of Uttarakhand

Code: C, J, C, L, B, P, H, R, T, B

Story: Choliya Jat Communities Lead, Bhotiya People Honor Ritual Traditions Boldly.

1. Choliya Dance

Community/Tribe: Kumaoni community (traditionally the Rajput warriors).
Occasion/Festival: Weddings and religious processions.
Theme/Purpose: A martial dance depicting war preparations and victory.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear traditional white tunics, colorful belts, and carry swords and shields.
Music/Instruments: Ransingha (trumpet), Turi, Dhol, and Damau.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Martial / Heroic.
Important Facts: It is over a thousand years old. The dance is believed to ward off evil spirits following a wedding procession.

2. Jhora Dance

Community/Tribe: People of the Kumaon region.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the onset of spring and the fairs of the Kumaon hills.
Theme/Purpose: Breaking social barriers; people of all castes and ages participate together.
Costumes and Props: Traditional hill attire (Pichora for women).
Music/Instruments: Hurka (drum) and cymbals.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Social / Seasonal.
Important Facts: Participants link arms and move in a slow, synchronized circle. The rhythm is set by the lead singer playing the Hurka.

3. Chhapeli Dance

Community/Tribe: Kumaon region youth.
Occasion/Festival: Local fairs and social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: A dance of courtship and romance between lovers.
Costumes and Props: The female dancer carries a mirror and a colorful handkerchief.
Music/Instruments: Hurka, flute, and manjira.
Gender Participation: Both (usually a male-female pair).
Type: Social / Romantic.
Important Facts: The songs are typically in a question-and-answer format, expressing the beauty of the beloved and the pangs of longing.

4. Langvir Nritya

Community/Tribe: Men of the Garhwal region.
Occasion/Festival: Fairs and village celebrations.
Theme/Purpose: Display of extraordinary physical strength and balance.
Costumes and Props: A tall bamboo pole fixed in the ground.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Damau.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Skill-based / Acrobatic.
Important Facts: The dancer climbs to the top of the pole and balances himself on his stomach at the peak, performing spins and stunts while the music plays below.

5. Barada Nati

Community/Tribe: Jaunsari community (Chakrata region).
Occasion/Festival: Religious festivals and social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Celebration of togetherness and community identity.
Costumes and Props: Highly colorful Jaunsari ethnic dresses and heavy silver jewelry.
Music/Instruments: Dhol, Damau, and Nagara.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Social / Tribal.
Important Facts: It is one of the most vibrant dances of the Jaunsari tribe, characterized by rhythmic swaying and fast-paced footwork.

6. Pandav Nritya

Community/Tribe: Garhwal community.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the winter months (post-harvest).
Theme/Purpose: Narrating the life and adventures of the five Pandavas from the Mahabharata.
Costumes and Props: Dancers carry traditional weapons (swords, spears) representing the Pandava they portray.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and Damau.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Dance-Drama / Ritual.
Important Facts: It is believed that during the dance, the spirits of the Pandavas actually enter the bodies of the performers (possession ritual).

7. Hurkiya Baul

Community/Tribe: Agricultural laborers of Kumaon.
Occasion/Festival: During the cultivation of paddy and maize.
Theme/Purpose: To ease the drudgery of hard farm labor.
Costumes and Props: Traditional work clothes.
Music/Instruments: Hurka (the small hourglass drum).
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Occupational / Agricultural.
Important Facts: The “Hurkiya” (singer/drummer) narrates stories of valor while the farmers move in rhythm with the beats to plant the crops.

8. Ramman

Community/Tribe: People of the Saloor Dungra village (Chamoli).
Occasion/Festival: Annual festival in April.
Theme/Purpose: Religious ritual honoring the local deity Bhumiyal Devta.
Costumes and Props: Elaborate wooden masks representing various deities and demons.
Music/Instruments: Jhaanjh (cymbals) and drums.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: UNESCO Heritage / Ritual.
Important Facts: Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It combines theater, music, and masked dance.

9. Thadya Dance

Community/Tribe: Women of the Garhwal region.
Occasion/Festival: Performed in the courtyard (Thadya) during spring.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the joy of the new season.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Garhwali attire.
Music/Instruments: Hand-clapping and folk songs.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Social / Seasonal.
Important Facts: The songs often focus on the domestic lives of women and the natural beauty of the Himalayan valleys.

10. Bhotiya Dance

Community/Tribe: Bhotiya (Tibeto-Burman) tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Rituals related to the deceased (Dhurang).
Theme/Purpose: To guide the soul of the departed to its final resting place.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Bhotiya woolen wraps and ethnic jewelry.
Music/Instruments: Local percussion.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Ritual / Ancestral.
Important Facts: It is a somber yet rhythmic dance that holds great spiritual significance for the Bhotiya community of high-altitude districts.

Folk Dances of West Bengal

Code: C, B, G, T, R, D, B, S, A, J, D

Story: Chhau Baul Groups Tell Rhythmic Durga Beats, Songs and Joyful Drums.

1. Chhau Dance (Purulia Style)

Community/Tribe: Indigenous communities of Purulia (Munda, Mahato).
Occasion/Festival: Performed during Chaitra Parva (Spring) and Sun Festival.
Theme/Purpose: Dramatization of the Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Puranas.
Costumes and Props: Dancers wear large, elaborate masks made of clay and paper-mache; the costumes are vibrant and multi-layered.
Music/Instruments: Dhamsa (giant kettle drum), Shehnai, and Dhol.
Gender Participation: Traditionally Men.
Type: Masked Dance-Drama / Martial.
Important Facts: Unlike the Mayurbhanj style, Purulia Chhau is famous for its vigorous jumps and somersaults. It is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

2. Brita (Vrita) Dance

Community/Tribe: Rural women of Bengal.
Occasion/Festival: Performed after recovering from an illness or to seek blessings.
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; a thanksgiving ritual, often dedicated to the Goddess of smallpox, Sitala Devi.
Costumes and Props: Traditional Bengali sarees.
Music/Instruments: Dhol and local percussion.
Gender Participation: Women.
Type: Ritualistic.
Important Facts: It is a circular dance where women move in rhythmic patterns to fulfill a “Vrata” (vow).

3. Gambhira

Community/Tribe: People of the Malda district.
Occasion/Festival: During the Gajan festival (mid-April).
Theme/Purpose: Social and political satire; the dancers address “Nana” (Lord Shiva) about the community’s problems.
Costumes and Props: Dancers often wear wooden masks representing various deities.
Music/Instruments: Harmonium, Flute, and Dhak.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Masked Dance / Social Satire.
Important Facts: It is unique because it combines dance with a humorous dialogue session, acting as a mirror to society’s contemporary issues.

4. Tusu Dance

Community/Tribe: Rural folk of Purulia, Bankura, and Midnapore.
Occasion/Festival: Performed during the Makar Sankranti festival in the month of Pausha.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the harvest and honoring the folk Goddess Tusu.
Costumes and Props: Women carry a “Chaudal” (a small decorative structure).
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Madal.
Gender Participation: Women and young girls.
Type: Harvest / Social.
Important Facts: The dance is accompanied by “Tusu songs” which reflect the daily joys and sorrows of rural Bengali life.

5. Raibenshe

Community/Tribe: Originally by the Bagdi and Bauri communities (warrior class).
Occasion/Festival: Cultural festivals and martial displays.
Theme/Purpose: A martial dance showcasing the bravery and physical agility of the ancient soldiers.
Costumes and Props: Dancers carry a long bamboo pole (Raibansh).
Music/Instruments: Dhak and Dhol.
Gender Participation: Men.
Type: Martial / Heroic.
Important Facts: It involves incredible acrobatic maneuvers and mock-fighting. It was historically used to train foot soldiers for the regional kings.

6. Dhunuchi Dance

Community/Tribe: General public.
Occasion/Festival: Durga Puja (specifically during Ashtami and Sandhi Puja).
Theme/Purpose: Devotional; an offering of smoke and fire to Goddess Durga.
Costumes and Props: Dancers balance Dhunuchis (clay censers filled with burning charcoal and incense).
Music/Instruments: The heavy, frenetic beat of the Dhak.
Gender Participation: Traditionally Men (now Women participate actively).
Type: Ritualistic / Religious.
Important Facts: Dancers perform complex steps while balancing the burning censers in their hands, or even their mouths, amidst thick fragrant smoke.

7. Baul Dance

Community/Tribe: Baul community (wandering mystic minstrels).
Occasion/Festival: Poush Mela (Shantiniketan) and village gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Spiritual; seeking the “Man of the Heart” (Moner Manush) through ecstatic movement.
Costumes and Props: Saffron or multi-colored patchwork robes; hair tied in a top-knot.
Music/Instruments: Ektara (one-stringed instrument), Duggi, and Ghungroo.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Spiritual / Folk.
Important Facts: Baul is both a dance and a philosophy. The movements are free-form and whirling, expressing deep spiritual joy.

8. Santhali Dance

Community/Tribe: Santhal Tribe.
Occasion/Festival: Sarhul, Karam, and weddings.
Theme/Purpose: Celebrating the bond with nature and community solidarity.
Costumes and Props: Women wear the Parhan (traditional saree) and tuck flowers into their hair.
Music/Instruments: Madal (drum), Flute, and Jhanjhar.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Tribal / Social.
Important Facts: Characterized by dancers linking arms and moving in long, synchronized lines or circles with rhythmic swaying.

9. Alkap

Community/Tribe: Rural folk of Murshidabad, Malda, and Birbhum.
Occasion/Festival: Gajan festival and village fairs.
Theme/Purpose: Entertainment; a mix of dance, drama, and crude comedy.
Costumes and Props: Simple village attire; the “Chhokra” (boy) dresses as a woman.
Music/Instruments: Dholak, Harmonium, and Flute.
Gender Participation: Men (boys play female roles).
Type: Folk Theater.
Important Facts: It is a professional folk performance where a group of 10-12 people travel to perform satirical plays interspersed with songs.

10. Jhumur Dance

Community/Tribe: Tea garden workers and tribal communities of the “Rarh” region.
Occasion/Festival: Post-harvest celebrations and Karam Puja.
Theme/Purpose: Joy and relaxation after hard labor.
Costumes and Props: Traditional tribal wear.
Music/Instruments: Madal and Dhol.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Tribal / Social.
Important Facts: It is a rhythmic dance performed in circles, often seen in the border districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand.

11. Domni

Community/Tribe: People of the Malda region.
Occasion/Festival: Social gatherings.
Theme/Purpose: Narrative storytelling of domestic life through comedy.
Costumes and Props: Local attire.
Music/Instruments: Dholak and Kartal.
Gender Participation: Both.
Type: Narrative / Folk Theater.
Important Facts: It starts with a prayer (Vandana) and proceeds into a humorous play depicting husband-wife interactions or social problems.

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