Folk Dance

Nature always encourages man to dance and sing. Animal and bird walks in different ways, Play of waves on the bank, Dance of young petals on the rhythmical beats of air makes people to shake their body with the mood of the nature and their voice with the voice of nightingale.

People followed their heart and danced. Later on folk dances developed with their styles and mood with different festival of seasons and occasions. They got name as per the time and occasion they were performed. In major dance which were performed on the occasion of marriage or birth of child called 'Sanskar Nritya'. Dance based on History of Mythology called Dance drama or Nritya Katha. Dance based on some season called 'Ritu Nritya'. Dance based on some festival was called 'Parva Nritya' or 'Utsav Nritya'. Dance devoted to some God was called 'Addhyatmic Nritya'.

Folk dance does not have any written rules and regulation. This tradition is given generation to generation by practice and choice. Feeling of heart is the force, which work behind it. Time to time different classical dance, acrobatic, movement of the occupation and daily work also added lot of gestures in dance. People also test some extraordinary acrobat in folk dance and lots of things were exchanged between folk and classical dance. Folk dance is free and open-minded so that they always grow and become matter for curiosity for everyone.

Every state has folk dances of its own and they all somehow connected with the regional atmospheric condition and regional festivals. List some of the folk dances of each state are as follows:

Jammu & Kashmir: Rof, Bachan Gama, Kudd, Phummani
Himanchal Pradesh: Banjara and Gaderia, Ghughuti, Lavnibgavali, Churaha
Sikkim and Ladaakh: Shaapdoh, Shongraches, Koshengraches, Shuplarches, Nyavoperches, Chham, Jabro
Manipur and Assam: Lai-Haroba, Kabuee, Kirtan, Raaslila
Nagaland: Krishnalila, Bakasur, Shankasur, Khasi, Bhutia
Panjaab: Bhangra, Jhumar, Gidda, Kiki, Ludhi, Naati, Thakuri, Magel
Rajesthan: Ghoomar, Jhoomar, Dandia, Rasia, Valar, Dhol, Matka Nritya, Talvaar Ka Naach, Sapero ka Naach, Gindar, Terataali, Kachhi Godi, Gair, Kaalbeli, Bhavai Nritya.
Gujraat: Garba, Swastika Raas, Manjeera, Matki, Garbi, Raas
Maharashtra: Tipri, Gof, Gaouricha, Dholacha Nritya, Dashavtaar, Nakta Naach, Dera Nritya, Shankhasur Nritya, Leziyam Nritya, Radha Nritya, Bhagat, Godhoom, Pinga, Kombda, Kana, Jhinjhota, Jimma, Laavni, Tamasha
Uttar Pradesh: Pandav Nritya, Thali Nritya, Jaagar, Jhumelo, Chhopati, Chaitipasaara, Chhapeli, Chanchari, Chauliya, Raaslila, Taalraasak, Kajari, Holi, Danda(Chatta) Karma Nritya, Diwali Nritya or Deepak Nritya, Bhagat Nritya
Bangaal: Raivanshi, Dhaali, Kathi Nritya, Laathi Nritya, Jhoomar, Dhamaail, Aarti, Vrat Nritya, Kirtan Nritya
Orissa: Ghumura, Bhuiya, Jong, Karma, Kond Nritya, Mudiya Nritya
Bihar: Ramlila, Kirtaniya, Kunjvaasi, Bhagata, Puja, Aarti, Saturi, Brajvasi, Vanshilal, Kadamlila, Naaglila, Natwa
Madhya Pradesh: Paali, Bhauli, Navtali, Jodi, Phoolpati, Garba
Kerala: Sanghkaali, Kuriyattam, Thullal, , Yakshagaan
Tamilnadu: Kurvanji Nritya, Karagam, Kavdi, Narial Kavdi
Andhra Pradesh: Kuchipudi, Uppuvadyam, Mathuri, Kummi, Kolattam, Chenchu, Gadava, Kond
Maisoor: Harvest dance of Kurg, Chakke and Jaade Kolatt, Pukhiattam
Andamaan and Nikobar: Bairong, Jongeer, Legong, Rangda, Dance of seven daughters

Aadivasi Nritya (Tribal Dances): which belongs to the Tribes and people in deep Rural areas
Grameend Nritya (Village Dance): Dances in Village and dances of the lower Caste People generally connected with uneducated class.
Shehri Nritya (City Dances): Mass Dances on different festival and occasions in cities by city people these dances are neither classical nor fully folk dance but the mixture of both of them. Generally it is well-planned and rich music and use of western instruments with the Indian one is the specialty of these dances. For example mass Dandia dances on the occasion of Navratri Garba in Gujrat.