dance
Tripura has rich
cultural heritage of 19 different tribal communities, Bengali and Manipuri
communities. Each community has its own dance forms which are famous in the
country. Out of all the dances, the folk dances are: Hozagiri dance of Reang
community, Garia , Jhum and Lebang Boomani dances of Tripuri community; the
Cheraw and Welcome dance of Lusai community; Hai-Hak dance of Malsum community;
Wangala dance of the Garo Community.
Garia Dance
This is a folk dance
performed in Tripura State. The life and culture of people of Tripura revolves
around the Jhum culture, which also known as the shifting cultivation. The
people sow the seeds for the cultivation of crops and then they pray for a good
future ahead to their `Garia` god for a happy harvest. The celebration is
attached to the Garia Puja that lasts about for seven days, where they seek to
entertain their beloved deity with song and dance, which is also known as the
Garia dance.
Lebang Boomani Dance
Lebang is tha name of
a colourful insect, which comes in the search of seeds to hil slopes before
monsoon. By this folk dance and music people attract the insects from their
hiding place and catch them.
Hozagiri Dance
The Reang tribal
community, which is a very distinct community, practises this dance form and
hence even the dance is very different from the other tribal dances.
Hai-Hak Dance
The Halam community,
whose social and economic life, also revolves around jhum cultivation, performs
the Hai-Hak dance. Therefore, at the end of the harvesting season the, Malsum
traditionally adore Goddess Laxmi. It is also a community dance that is full of
exquisite beauty. This is a group performance, where the different dance
rhythms reflect the traditional & inherited dancing patterns from the
distant past.
Wangala Dance
Wangala is a ceremony
connected with a consumption of the first rice harvest. After the harvest
`Wangala` is performed in every houses of the community. The Sangnakma, head of
the communities visits every house and cuts a pumpkin as a part of gods
worship, which is sacrificed on this occasion for one`s peaceful life. After
this, the women folk dance on the beat of `Dama` and `Aaduri`, which is made of
the horn of the buffalo. This dance pattern projects the rehearsal for a war.
Welcome Dance
As the name suggests,
this dance is performed as for welcoming guests. Here, the Lusai girls
generally wear colorful & bright costumes along with fragrant flowers as
their accessories. This is performed for visitors, who pay visits to their
house as a guest. Being a very colorful & attractive dance, young girls of
the entire community take part and enjoy in the same. The songs, which they
sing while performing the dance, are deeply rooted in their culture, in order
to treat the guests as a God.
Cheraw Dance
The Darlong
community, strongly believes that man is destined to go to heaven after his/her
death. Incidentally, they think that if a pregnant woman dies due to some
reason, she feels it very difficult, with all her physical strains, to go the
long journey to heaven. Hence, at the last stage of the pregnancy or
immediately prior her delivery, all her relatives gather together & perform
this `Cheraw` dance, throughout the day and night. This is a group dance
performed in order to instill confidence in the mind of the pregnant woman.
People practising
this dance, strongly believe in their faith and feel that even if the woman
dies at this stage, it will be possible for her to go heaven with the courage
and confidence. It is performed using the sound of bamboo as the rhythm and if
the sound continues till her death, it is assured to give her relaxation.
Way (Lamp) Festival
Dance
The traditional dance
of the Mog community is known as a `Way Dance` or `Lamp Dance`. `Way` is a name
of festival that is celebrated on the day of full moon of the month in Ashvin.
Lamps are dedicated to the Lord Buddha, which are launched on this day itself.
The young boys and girls stand in rows with lamps in their hand to worship the
Lord Buddha, while indulging in fun & enjoyment through songs and dance.
This dance is performed in the premises of the Buddha temple and is like a
token of their respect towards God.
