Pithoragarh, lying in the Kumaon region in Uttarakhand, is known for its natural beauty and its rich cultural heritage. An important part of this culture is its traditional dance forms and songs of the region. These rhythmic dances reflect the beliefs and lifestyle of the people of Pithoragarh. The dances along with the songs are truly unique and are important forms of entertainment for people in these regions. They are performed on several different occasions like marriages, fairs, religious festivals, social gatherings etc. Each of these occasions has a unique dance form attached with it. The dancers, both men and women are colourfully dressed and sometimes decorate their faces with different colours. Here are some of the dance forms of Pithoragarh and their significance.
Chholiya – The ‘Chholiya’ dance dates back to about 2000 years. In Kumaoni, ‘chhol’ means ‘to behead’; it is a kind of war dance. Its origin can be traced back to the Khasiya kingdom of Khasdesh. In the feudal society of the kingdom, when a particular landlord was defeated, he was forced to marry off his girl to the victor. Though this kind of a practice is no longer prevalent, the Chholiya dance is still performed by the people of Pithoragarh during marriage ceremonies. Two people perform the dance and enact the war that used to take place in the early times. The dancers perform with swords and shields and throughout the performance display different sword fighting feats and use various gestures and facial expressions to convey different feelings like joy, fear, wonder etc. The dancers are dressed in the colorful traditional costumes, which include ‘churidar pyjama’, ‘chola’, ‘belts’, ‘pattis’ on the leg and turbans, and use sandalwood paste and red vermillion to adorn their faces. The dancers, always male, are especially trained to dance with the swords and shields. The dance is a part of the marriage procession and the dancers continue to perform till they reach the bride’s house. The perfectly synchronized movements, the grand costumes, flashing swords and the use of different musical instruments like drums, ‘turi’ (a trumpet like instrument), and ‘ransing’ makes this dance form extremely exciting to watch.
Jhora – The ‘Jhora’ dance is a community dance that is performed by both men and women. It is usually performed in community gatherings like village fairs and also to celebrate the coming of spring season. The number of participants can range from a minimum of 6 to 7 dancers and can increase to more than 100 dancers. The dancers hold each other’s arms and move together in a circle swaying to the beats of the music. Usually the dancers also join the lead singer and sing in a chorus and if the circle is a big one then the musicians stand in the center. As the dance is usually performed during the occasions like fairs, the people are dressed in their best attires. There is no time limit and sometimes the dance continues for hours with new dancers joining and the old ones retiring.
Chancheri – Another dance form, ‘Chancheri’, found in the Pithoragarh district is inspired by the ‘Jhora dance’. Like Jhora, it is also a form of community dance where the men and the women move in a semi-circle in slow movements. The songs of this dance can have different themes like religion or social. However, love is the most common theme. Sometimes in ‘chancheri’, a playful competition takes place between the men and the women and they reply to each other through songs.
Chhapeli – Supposedly, the name ‘Chhapeli’ has been derived from the word ‘chhabeli’ which means a beautiful woman. Two people, one playing the role of a woman and the other a man, perform the dance; sometimes young boys perform the role of the woman. The performers are colorfully dressed, and a woman carrying a mirror in the left hand performs the dance and a colorful handkerchief in the other, while the man plays a ‘hurka’ (a traditional drum instrument). The main theme of the dance is love and throughout the act the man tries to woo the girl. The facial expressions and the graceful dance movements make the performance an entertaining one.
Jagar – The people of this region believe in the worship of natural phenomena, spirits and ghosts and the Jagar dance (which means ‘invoking the deities’) is usually performed during these ritualistic ceremonies. Sometimes, it also forms a part of the Puja songs and is performed in honor of the different deities. The dance is performed during the nighttime when the singer asks the deity or the spirit to enter the body of the ‘dangariya’ (the medium), and answer the different questions. When the medium starts shaking his body, trembling and jumping, as if in a trance, it indicates that the spirit has entered his body. The whole atmosphere is very mystical and somber and invokes a sense of fear.
Hiran Chittal Nritiya – This form of dance is very popular in the Pithoragarh district. The main theme of the dance is the human relation with nature.
Pandav Nritiya – The Pandav Nritya is performed usually during the occasions of Diwali and Dussehra. Through the dance the performers enact the story of Mahabharata. It is usually performed by six people who represent the five Pandava brothers, and Draupadi. The dancers are dressed in traditional costumes and ornaments and use different weapons like bows and arrows in the dance.
Some of the other dance forms in Pithoragarh are the ‘Rasko naach’, the ‘Pona nritiya’ that forms an important part of the marriage processions and the ‘Somila nritiya’ performed during the rituals for local deities. |
