Jhumar of the Ranchi community
AI-drafted · awaiting admin review
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.
FolkWhere: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (settlements in the Andaman group)Occasion: Karma and other harvest festivals, weddings and community gatherings
| Performed by | Men and women in groups |
|---|---|
| Costume | Simple sarees and dhotis, often white with coloured borders, with flowers in the hair |
| Music and instruments | Mandar and nagara drums, with songs in Sadri and other languages of Chhota Nagpur |
How it is performed
- Dancers form a circle or semicircle, women often linking arms at the waist.
- The drummers set the rhythm and the singers begin the song.
- The group moves with small, swaying steps, bending forward and back together.
- The pace and the song change through the night as the celebration goes on.
Significance
Workers from the Chhota Nagpur plateau, locally called the ‘Ranchi’ community, came to the islands in the colonial period. Their dances keep their culture alive far from their home region.