Tribal Dances of India

Rhythm of the Forest, Voice of the Community

If folk dances represent village society, tribal dances represent the most intimate connection between human beings and nature.

They are not merely performances — they are → Seasonal celebrations, Ritual offerings, Collective prayers, Expressions of ecological harmony

Let us understand them.

What is Tribal Dance?

Tribal dances are:

• Simple and spontaneous
• Performed for personal joy and divine offering
• Closely linked with seasons and community rituals

There is often no rigid boundary between folk and tribal dances, as many traditions overlap.

Core Features of Tribal Dances

1️⃣ Seasonal and Ritual Association

• Linked to harvest | Worship of local deities | Spring festivals | Ancestral rituals

2️⃣ Group Formations

• Performed collectively | Circular formations common | Fluid change of positions

Community, not individual virtuosity, is central.

3️⃣ Music and Sound

Tribal music is distinctive:

• High-pitched tones | Use of sharp contrasts
• Mimics nature → Bird chirping, Animal calls, Shrilling sounds
• Use of expressive syllables → “Hoo”, “Haa”, “Yaha”

Music is organic and environment-inspired.

4️⃣ Indigenous Instruments

Made from local materials → Bamboo, Wood, Animal skin, Leather, Gourds and pumpkins
Thus, tribal music is ecologically rooted.

Tribal Dances State Wise

State / UT	Dance Form	Tribe / Community	Occasion / Key Features
Andhra Pradesh	Dhimsa	Porja	Performed in Visakhapatnam district
	Veeranatyam	Tribal communities	Dedicated to Lord Shiva
	Lambadi	Banjaras	Mirror & bead-embroidered costumes; ornate jewellery
Arunachal Pradesh	Bardo Chham	Sherdukpens	Depicts fight between good & evil
	Ponung	Adi	Harvest dance; led by Miri; married women participate
	Wancho Dance	Wancho	Performed during Oriah festival; dance around Jangban pole
	Ajilamu	Monpa	Religious ceremonies
Assam	Bagurumba	Bodo	Celebrates nature & wildlife
	Jhumur	Tea tribes	Harvest season dance
Chhattisgarh	Gaur Maria	Maria	Simulates animal movements
	Panthi	Satnami	Devotional dance
Also in Jharkhand, Odisha, MP, WB.	Karma	Multiple tribes	Performed during Karma festival; worship of Karam Devta
	Saila	Saila tribe / Baiga	Post-harvest; stick dance
	Suwa (Soowa)	Tribal women	“Parrot Dance”; circle around bamboo pot
Gujarat	Tippani	Tribal women (Saurashtra)	Rhythmic floor-beating dance
	Padhar	Padhar	Mimics daily life activities
	Siddi Dhamal	Siddi	Blend of Sufi & African traditions
Jharkhand	Jhumar	Santhal	Harvest & festivals
	Paika	Munda	Martial dance
	Jhika Dasain	Santhal	Ritual dance before Dussehra
Karnataka	Kunitha	Various tribes	Drum-based rhythmic dance
	Dollu Kunitha	Shepherd community	Religious occasions
Kerala	Kummi	Tribal women	Circular formation dance
	Paniyar Kali	Paniya	Wayanad district
	Paravalli Kali	Tribal communities	High-speed patterned formations
Madhya Pradesh	Saila	Gond & Baiga	Stick dance
	Muria	Muria	Performed in Ghotul; linked to Lingo Pen
	Gaur	Tribal communities	Marriage dance; hunting theme
	Tertali	Kamar tribe women	Spiritual performance
	Gond Dance	Gond	Marriage ceremonies
Maharashtra	Tarpa	Warli	Harvest celebration
	Parvi Nach	Kokna	Wind instrument (Tarpha) accompaniment
	Dhangari Gaja	Shepherd community	Worship of gods
Manipur	Thabal Chongba	Tribal communities	Holi festival
	Kabui Naga Dance	Kabui Naga	Social occasions & festivals
Meghalaya	Laho	Khasi	Festive dance
	Wangala	Garo	Harvest festival (Wangala)
Mizoram	Cheraw	Mizo	Bamboo dance
	Khuallam	Mizo	Social gatherings
Nagaland	Chang Lo (Sua Lua)	Chang	Martial dance; Poanglem festival
	Zeliang Dance	Zeliang	Social festivals
	Melo Phita	Angami	Sekrenyi festival
Odisha	Dalkhai	Sambalpuri & tribal women	Dussehra festival
	Ghumura	Konds & others	Warrior dance
Rajasthan	Ghoomar	Tribal & folk	Festive dance
	Bhavai	Bhil	Acrobatic performance
Sikkim	Maruni	Nepali community	Festival dance
	Tamang Selo	Tamang	Lively musical dance
Tamil Nadu	Kavadi Attam	Tribal communities	Dedicated to Lord Muruga
	Kaniyan Koothu	Kaniyan	Storytelling tradition
Telangana	Gusadi	Raj Gonds	Post-harvest; peacock-feather headgear
Tripura	Hojagiri	Reang	Balancing dance
	Mamita	Tripuri	Harvest; worship of Mailuma & Khuluma
	Garia	Tribal communities	Garia Puja
	Bizu	Chakma	New Year (Chaitra Sankranti)
Uttarakhand	Barada Nati	Jaunsar-Bawar	Folk-tribal dance
	Chhapeli	Kumaoni	Social dance
	Holiya	Rajput tradition	Martial association
West Bengal	Santhali Dance	Santhal	Nature-oriented
	Chhau (Purulia)	Tribal communities	Masked dance
Ladakh	Jabro	Changpa	Nomadic dance
	Kampa Sumsak	Ladakhi tribe	Tibetan Buddhist influence
Lakshadweep	Lava Dance	Tribal community	Festive; red costumes & drum beats