Folk Dances
People
& their Life Style
Places of
Interest at Chamba
Places
of Interest at Dalhousie
Men
and women enjoy both singing and dancing. Marriages, religious functions and
fairs provide a spectacle of spontaneous songs and dances. Men and women may
sing and dance separately or in mixed grou
ps.
A dance is slow in the beginning but picks up-tempo in between and becomes
quite fast in the end. Singing and dancing go side by side. In one form of
dances, singers and dancers split themselves in two parties and sit apart
leaving sufficient space for dancers. A person from each side stands up and
one of them sings in the form of a question and moves dancing to the other
side in the arena and returns to this side. The dancer from the other side
then sings in reply and dances around in the same way and this continues for
sufficient duration.
The
general style of the dance consists of movements and steps, backward and
forward in a circle formed by dancers holdings the hands of one another. The
swaying of hands look very graceful. The movements of steps are controlled
by the tempo set by the time of songs, drums, flute and tone The types of
dances performed in Chamba district are as follows:
Dhurei
This
dance is performed by the women folk only. In this pattern of dance, no
musical instrum
ents
are played and the women dance on the tune of folk song. The dancing women
arrange themselves in a circle. A set of women sings and the other set of
women repeat the song and the dance proceeds in a fairly good speed. This
song was usually performed in the confines of the houses and therefore came
to be called dhurei i.e. dance performed within a house. It might be true,
as the women were not much exposed to outer world in olden days. This dance
is however believed that the dance acquired its name from the way it is
performed. The dance is performed in circle called ghera in local parlance.
From gehra, the world Ghurei seems to have derived. Whatever be the reasons
of its naming, Ghurei is the most popular women dance in Chamba
Churahi
Nritya or Churahi Nat
This
type of dance is more prevalent in Churah area as the name suggests. Men and
Women combine themselves to perform this dance in two circles. In the inner
circle women dance and in the outer circle men perform their dance. Musical
instruments and folk songs, both are brought to use during the dance.
Dandaras
This
pattern of dance is performed in Bharmour area by the inhabitants called
Gaddis. It is a ty
pical
dance performed by men folk only and no songs are sung. Dancers perform
dance on the tune of musical instruments only. The dancers arrange
themselves in a semicircle and begin dance in a slow speed. The dance picks
up momentum in between and becomes very fast towards the end when the
dancers virtually start jumping. The fast dance seems to symbolise tandav
nirtya of Shiva. This dance seems to have derived its name Dandras owing to
the nature of sound 'dund-dund' produced when the drum is beaten during
dance.
Some
people however believe that the dancers in olden days played with big bamboo
sticks called 'dandas' in local parlance. The dance therefore acquired the
name of Dandras.
Sohal
Nati
This
is a typical dance performed in Saho area of Chamba district. It may be
performed on all festive occasions but the main performance is on the days
of Saho fair held in Baisakh in the premises of Chandershekhar temple. The
dance symbolises the killing of Bhasmasur by Lord Vishnu and hence also
known as Mohini-Bhasmasur dance. As the legend goes, Bhasmasur obtained a
Bonn form Shiva that whosoever he placed his hand on, would perish. Taking
advantage of the Bonn, Bhasmasur had run after Shiva itself to finish him.
Lord Vishnu then converting himself in to Mohni (comely maiden) enticed
Bhasmasur to dance with him and when Bhasmasur happened to place his hand
over his head while performing dance, he was reduced to ashes. Based on this
legendary incident, the dancers perform dance in different postures and
ultimately revolve both of their hands on their heads, the dancer playing as
Bhasmasur is at the end of row. When the other dancers revolve their hands
on their heads, he follows suit, which indicates his last. This dance is
performed amidst playing of local musical instruments.
