Folk and Tribal Dances of India

Definition

The regional and community dance forms of India that lie outside the eight recognised classical traditions, performed at festivals, harvests and rituals, and strongly tied to particular states.

Key points

• Punjab: Bhangra (harvest, male) and Giddha (female).
• Gujarat: Garba and Dandiya Raas, associated with Navaratri.
• Maharashtra: Lavani (with the dholki drum) and the Koli fisherfolk dance.
• Rajasthan: Ghoomar (a Rajput women's dance) and Kalbeliya (the snake-charmer community, recognised by UNESCO).
• Assam: Bihu, the spring harvest dance.
• West Bengal and the east: Chhau, a semi-classical masked martial dance (Seraikella, Purulia and Mayurbhanj forms), recognised by UNESCO.
• Other matches: Bhavai and Khayal (Rajasthan), Garba (Gujarat), Cheraw or bamboo dance (Mizoram), Hojagiri (Tripura), Yakshagana (Karnataka, a dance-drama), Bidesia (Bihar) and Rouf (Kashmir).

Why it matters for CAPF

Dance-to-state matching for folk forms (Bhangra-Punjab, Garba-Gujarat, Lavani-Maharashtra, Ghoomar-Rajasthan, Bihu-Assam, Cheraw-Mizoram) is a high-frequency static culture question alongside the classical eight.

Common confusion

Folk dances are community and festival forms, not part of the eight Sangeet Natak Akademi classical dances; Chhau and Yakshagana are semi-classical dance-dramas often listed with folk forms; Kalbeliya and Chhau carry UNESCO intangible-heritage recognition.

Parent note

indian music dance and painting