ART AND CULTURE OF BIHAR: DANCES

The folk dance forms of Bihar are representative of its vibrant culture and diversity. They reflect various
phases of life such as courage, sorrow, accomplishments etc. Here, dances are an important aspect of
social gathering. Dancing has a pre-eminent place in the social life of Bihar.

Some of the important dances of Bihar are as follows:

1) Jat-Jatin Dance:

• Jat-Jatin dance is mostly performed in Koshi

and Mithila region (North Bihar).
• Its theme portrays the love story of the lovers
Jat and Jatin, who were separated and lived in
difficult situations.
• The dance showcases events like a quarrel
between husband and wife, poverty, sorrow
and other natural calamities.
• The theme songs invoke rains.
• It is also known as Yaksha Nritya.

2) Jhijhian Dance:

• Jhijhian dance is performed mainly in the

district of Siwan.
• It is performed when there is no rain for a
long time, and the area is facing drought.
• People sing and dance to please Lord Indra
for rain.
• Singing involves the use of instruments such
as harmonium, bansuri and dholak to play
sweet and rhythmic songs.

3) Kajari Dance:

• Kajari is known as a song of the rainy

season which is sung from the start of the
Shravan month.
• The dance form called Kajari Dance
accompanies these songs.
 • Kajari is derived from the word kajal, meaning black. It represents black monsoon clouds which
bring relief and joy.
• When the song is sung by women while dancing in semi-circles, it is known as Dhunuiya Kajari.
• Girija Devi, one of the noted exponents of Kajari, died in 2017.

4) Sohar-Khilouna Dance:

• Sohar-Khilouna is sung on the occasion of the birth

ceremony of a child.
• It is considered as a blessing to the child.
• The body language, while singing is extremely poetic
and powerful.

5) Bidesia Dance:

• It is a form of dance-drama prevalent in

the Bhojpuri speaking region of the state.
• The focus of the dance is on social issues and day
to day problems.
• It is believed that the creator of this dance is Bhikari
Thakur of Bihar.
• Satire and light-hearted comments are used to put
forward views on social issues.
• The women who are left behind by their men who
are away from home, sing through these songs (birha).
• Vibrant dances and evoking music are used.
• In Bidesia dance, the female roles are enacted by the male actor-dancers.

6) Fagua Dance:

• Fagua dance is performed during the Holi.

• This dance is connected to the mythical story of
Prahlad and Hiranyakshipu.
• In the villages there is a typical "Dhamar" type of
holi singing.
 • Singing and dancing with musical instruments like dholak, jhal-manjeera, etc. make the festival
even more colourful.

7) Jhumari Dance:

• Jhumari dance is performed in the Mithilanchal

region of Bihar by the married women during the
Kartik month.
• It is similar to the Garba of Gujarat.
• Dancers wear colourful clothes and jewellery.
• The dance is performed by married women,
followed by singing and celebrating.

8) Magahi Dance:

• Magahi dance is performed by a large number of

people gathered together for feasting and
celebration.
• The men in these festivals act as masters, and the
girls follow the steps of the men who dance in front
of them.

9) Domkach Dance:

• This dance is performed traditionally in the

Mithila and Bhojpur regions.
• The word Domkach means ‘playing other’s role by
the men of dominant caste’.
• The women perform this dance on the occasion
of a wedding.
Other forms of this dance include the Purnea
Dhangar and the Bakho Nach, where the husband
& wife dance together on the occasion of a child's
birth.
10) Kath Ghorwa Dance :

• It is a dance performed by boys in the form of horse

made up of woods.
• Boys are dressed in colourful dresses with an artificial
wooden horse fixed around their waist, and they dance
on the local tunes.

11) Dhobia Dance:

• Dhobia dance is performed in the Bhojpur region by

the washerman community.
• It is performed on auspicious occasions like
marriage etc.
• Ony male performers participate in this dance.

12) Vidyapati Dance:

• This dance is performed in Purnia and Mithila

region.
• Dancers sing Mahakavi Vidyapati's work in the
song form.
• Dance is performed along with singing.

13) Launda Dance:

• This dance is mainly performed in Bhojpur, Ara, Buxar

etc. districts.
• Dance is performed by a male dressed up as a female.
• It is mainly performed during wedding ceremonies.

14) Jharni Dance:

• Jharni dance is mainly performed in Darbhanga district.

• This dance is performed by the Muslim community at
the time of Muharram.
 • This dance expresses feelings of sorrow.

15) Sama Chakewa Dance :

• This dance is organised in Kartik month, from

Shukla Paksha Saptami till Purnima.
• It is performed by unmarried girls.
• Sama and Chakewa are basically brother and
sister, and the dance celebrates the love
between brothers and sisters.
• The celebration begins from the night
of Chhath puja and continues till Kartik
Purnima.