Traditional dances
Classical, folk and tribal dances of every State and UT: how they are performed and what they mean.
Showing 1–60 of 169
- Bhangra
भांगड़ा
A vigorous harvest dance of Punjabi men, danced to the dhol with high jumps, shoulder shrugs and raised arms, especially at Baisakhi.
PunjabFolk - Bharatanatyam
भरतनाट्यम
Tamil Nadu's classical dance of crisp footwork, sculpted poses and expressive storytelling, recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Tamil NaduClassical - Bihu dance
बिहू नृत्य
The joyful folk dance of Assam, performed by young men and women at Rongali (Bohag) Bihu in spring to the beat of the dhol and the pepa horn.
AssamFolk - Cham (masked monastery dance)
छम (मुखौटा नृत्य)
Slow, solemn masked dances performed by monks in monastery courtyards at festivals such as Hemis Tsechu.
LadakhRitual - Cheraw (bamboo dance)
चेराव (बांस नृत्य)
The best-known Mizo dance, in which women step nimbly in and out of long bamboo poles that men clap together in rhythm.
MizoramTribal - Chholiya
छोलिया
A sword-and-shield dance of Kumaon, performed by men leading wedding processions with mock fights to the beat of drums.
UttarakhandMartial - Fugdi
फुगडी
A lively women’s folk dance of Goa and the Konkan, danced in circles or rows to songs and rhythmic blowing sounds, often during religious festivals.
GoaFolk - Garba
गरबा
A circular devotional dance around a lamp or an image of the Goddess, danced through the nine nights of Navratri.
GujaratFolkUNESCO 2023 - Ghoomar
घूमर
A graceful circle dance of Rajasthani women, who spin slowly so that their long flared ghaghras open out like flowers.
RajasthanFolk - Hojagiri
होजागिरी
A graceful dance of the Reang (Bru) community in which women balance bottles, lamps and pots on their heads while moving only the lower body.
TripuraTribal - Jat-Jatin
जट-जटिन
A Mithila folk dance-drama in which women act out the love, quarrels and hardships of a husband (Jat) and wife (Jatin).
BiharFolk - Karagattam
करगाट्टम
A Tamil folk dance in which dancers balance a decorated pot on the head while dancing, performed at village temple festivals in Puducherry.
PuducherryFolk - Kathak
कथक
Classical dance of storytellers, with fast footwork, spins and expressive storytelling. Its Lucknow and Banaras gharanas grew in Uttar Pradesh.
Uttar PradeshClassical - Kathakali
कथकली
Kerala’s classical dance-drama, in which actors in striking painted faces and huge skirts tell stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata through hand gestures and expressions.
KeralaClassical - Kuchipudi
कुचिपुड़ी
A classical dance-drama of Andhra Pradesh, named after Kuchipudi village in Krishna district, that blends graceful dance, expressive acting and Carnatic music.
Andhra PradeshClassical - Lava dance of Minicoy
मिनिकॉय का लावा नृत्य
Energetic group dance of the men of Minicoy, performed to drums and songs on festive occasions.
LakshadweepFolk - Lavani
लावणी
Maharashtra's best-known folk dance: fast, powerful songs and dance to the beat of the dholki, performed by women in nine-yard sarees.
MaharashtraFolk - Manipuri
मणिपुरी
One of India’s classical dances, known for its gentle, flowing movements and its Ras Lila performances of the love of Radha and Krishna.
ManipurClassical - Naga war dance
नागा युद्ध नृत्य
A powerful dance of warriors in full traditional dress, with spears, shields and war cries, performed by many Naga tribes.
NagalandTribal - Nati
नाटी
Himachal Pradesh’s best-known folk dance, in which long lines of men and women link arms and move slowly in a circle to drums and pipes at fairs and festivals.
Himachal PradeshFolk - Nicobarese dance
निकोबारी नृत्य
A group dance of the Nicobarese people in which men and women move in long lines or circles with linked arms, singing together at community feasts.
Andaman and Nicobar IslandsTribal - Odissi
ओडिसी
The classical dance of Odisha, known for its sculpturesque poses, the tribhangi stance and its devotion to Lord Jagannath, with roots in temple dance traditions.
OdishaClassical - Panthi
पंथी
The devotional dance of the Satnami community of Chhattisgarh, sung and danced in praise of Guru Ghasidas with rising speed and acrobatic moves.
ChhattisgarhDevotional - Perini Sivatandavam
पेरिणी शिवतांडवम
A vigorous dance of the Kakatiya age, once performed by warriors before Lord Shiva before going to battle, and revived in the twentieth century.
TelanganaMartial - Ponung
पोनुंग
A circle dance of Adi women at the Solung harvest festival, led by a male singer who tells the stories of creation and farming in song.
Arunachal PradeshTribal - Purulia Chhau
पुरुलिया छऊ
A vigorous masked dance-drama of Purulia district, with leaps, somersaults and large painted masks, telling stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas.
West BengalFolkUNESCO 2010 - Rai
राई
A fast, joyful folk dance of Bundelkhand in which a woman dancer whirls to the beat of the dhol and nagadia while male singers and drummers answer her.
Madhya PradeshFolk - Ramlila of Delhi
दिल्ली की रामलीला
The staging of the Ramayana over the nights before Dussehra, performed on grounds across Delhi and ending with the burning of Ravana's effigy.
DelhiFolk theatre - Rouf
रौफ़
A graceful Kashmiri dance of women in two facing rows, arms linked, stepping softly forward and back as they sing.
Jammu and KashmirFolk - Saang (Swang)
सांग
Haryana's open-air folk theatre, in which troupes sing and act out old tales of kings, saints and lovers through the night.
HaryanaFolk theatre - Seraikela Chhau
सरायकेला छऊ
A masked dance-drama of Seraikela in Jharkhand, rooted in martial movements, that tells stories from the epics and from nature through stylised gestures.
JharkhandFolkUNESCO 2010 - Shad Suk Mynsiem
शाद सुक म्यनसिएम
The ‘dance of joyful hearts’ of the Khasi people, a spring thanksgiving dance in which women and men dance in two circles.
MeghalayaFolk - Singhi Chham (snow lion dance)
सिंघी छाम
A Bhutia dance in which performers in a furry costume play the snow lion, a guardian symbol linked to Mount Khangchendzonga.
SikkimFolk - Tarpa dance
तारपा नृत्य
A circle dance of the tribal communities of Dadra and Nagar Haveli, in which men and women follow the player of the tarpa, a long wind instrument made from a dried gourd.
Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and DiuTribal - Yakshagana
यक्षगान
Night-long dance-drama of coastal and Malnad Karnataka that tells stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas with song, dance, dialogue and grand costumes.
KarnatakaFolk theatre - Badhai
बधाई
A Bundelkhand dance of congratulation, performed when a child is born, at weddings and when a wish has been fulfilled.
Madhya PradeshFolk - Bathukamma
बतुकम्मा
The circle dance and songs of Telangana's women around a tower of seasonal flowers, performed every evening of the nine-day Bathukamma festival.
TelanganaFolk - Baul song and dance
बाउल गीत और नृत्य
Wandering mystic minstrels of Bengal who sing of the divine within the human body and dance as they sing, playing the one-stringed ektara.
West BengalDevotional - Chaam masked dances of Pang Lhabsol
पांग ल्हाबसोल छाम नृत्य
Masked monastic dances performed for Pang Lhabsol, a festival unique to Sikkim that honours Mount Khangchendzonga as the State’s guardian deity.
SikkimRitual - Chang Lo (Sua Lua)
चांग लो (सुआ लुआ)
A dance of the Chang Naga people of Tuensang, once performed to celebrate victory over enemies and now at the Poanglem festival.
NagalandTribal - Dandiya raas
डांडिया रास
A lively Navratri dance in which pairs of dancers strike decorated wooden sticks in rhythm as they move in two circles.
GujaratFolk - Dhalo
धालो
A women’s folk dance of Goa performed on moonlit nights in the month of Paush, with two rows of dancers singing Konkani songs to the village deities.
GoaFolk - Dollu Kunitha
डोल्लु कुनिता
A powerful drum dance of Karnataka in which men beat large drums slung from their shoulders while leaping and turning in formation.
KarnatakaFolk - Dumhal
दुमहाल
A dance of the men of the Wattal community of Kashmir, who circle a ceremonial banner in long robes and tall conical caps.
Jammu and KashmirFolk - Garia dance
गरिया नृत्य
A joyful group dance of the Tripuri and other communities performed during Garia Puja, when the god Garia is worshipped for a good harvest.
TripuraFolk - Giddha
गिद्धा
The women's folk dance of Punjab, danced in a circle to clapping and witty boliyan, with each woman stepping into the centre in turn.
PunjabFolk - Gotipua
गोटिपुआ
An acrobatic devotional dance of Odisha performed by young boys dressed as girls, singing as they dance in praise of Jagannath and Krishna.
OdishaDevotional - Jabro
जबरो नृत्य
A lively folk dance of the Changpa nomads of the Changthang plateau, performed at Losar and other celebrations.
LadakhFolk - Jhijhiya
झिझिया
A Mithila dance by women who balance clay pots with lit lamps on their heads during Navratri, praying to protect the village from evil.
BiharDevotional - Jhora
झोड़ा
A circle dance of Kumaon in which men and women link arms and move together at fairs, open to all who wish to join.
UttarakhandFolk - Jhumair
झूमर
The most popular folk dance of Jharkhand, danced in circles or lines with linked arms to the beat of the mandar after the harvest and at festivals.
JharkhandFolk - Jhumar of the Ranchi community
रांची समुदाय का झूमर
A circle dance kept alive in the Andamans by families whose ancestors came from the Chhota Nagpur region, danced to the mandar and nagara at harvest and festivals.
Andaman and Nicobar IslandsFolk - Kalbelia
कालबेलिया
The fast, snake-like dance of the Kalbelia community, once traditional snake charmers. Its songs and dances are on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
RajasthanFolkUNESCO 2010 - Karagattam
करगट्टम
A folk dance in which performers balance a decorated pot (karagam) on the head while dancing, in honour of the rain goddess Mariamman.
Tamil NaduFolk - Kayang
कयांग
A slow, graceful group dance of Kinnaur in which men and women in Kinnauri caps and shawls move in a long curving line.
Himachal PradeshFolk - Khuallam
खुआललाम
The 'dance of the guests', performed by men at the old Mizo feast of merit called Khuangchawi.
MizoramTribal - Kolkali
कोलकली
Stick dance in which men move in a circle and strike short sticks in rhythm to songs, popular across the islands.
LakshadweepFolk - Mohiniyattam
मोहिनीअट्टम
The graceful solo classical dance of Kerala, named after Mohini, the enchantress form of Vishnu, with gentle swaying movements and expressive storytelling.
KeralaClassical - Nongkrem dance
नोंगक्रेम नृत्य
A harvest thanksgiving dance held during the Ka Pomblang Nongkrem festival at Smit, the seat of the Khyrim chiefdom near Shillong.
MeghalayaRitual - Phag dance
फाग नृत्य
A joyful dance of farming men and women in the month of Phalgun, when the winter crop is ripening and Holi arrives.
HaryanaFolk