FOLK DANCE OF CHHATTISGARH

The Saila dance is performed with many variations

in dancing style & pattern. Sometimes the dancers
stand together, forming a circle. Here, each one
stands on one leg and takes support by holding on
to the man in front. Then they all dance together,
or sometimes, they pair off or go around in a single
or double line, climbing each other's back.

Chhattisgarh is popularly famous for its festivals and it can be evidently

seen through the means of their varied cultures. The Saila Dance is one
of those many dances in this state, which is famous for its uniqueness.

Saila Dance is the famous folk dance of Chhattisgarh. In the month of

Aghan, the villagers go to the adjoining villages to perform the Saila Dance.
The group of Saila Dancers go to each house and perform this dance.

Chhattisgarh is a home to a number of types of tribal communities. It has

the largest population of tribals in the state. It is assumed that the earliest
tribals have been living in Bastar for over 10,000 years.

The Saila dance is a stick-dance that is popular in many regions of the

state, among the people of Sarguja, Chhindwara and Baitul districts. But
in these places, Saila is known by the Danda Nach or Dandar Pate.

Chhattisgarh's most famous and popular folk plays are Chandaini-Gonda,

Sonha-Bihan, Lorik-Chanda, Kari, Hareli, Gammatiha. Rahas is modern
folk plays of Chhattisgarh.

The "Mandar" gives the beat to the dancers, when the beat becomes fast,
the dancers also move faster. The sticks are once hit against each other,
when the arms are stretched upwards and then when the arms come down.

Saila is one of the Chhatisgadhi Folk dance which can be performed in

number of ways. Some of them are named as the Baithiki Saila, the Artari
Saila, the Thadi Saila, the Chamka Kunda Saila, the Chakramar Saila
(lizard`s dance) and the Shikari Saila.

For More details:

http://sanskritikchhattisgarh.in/