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Barada nati

AI-drafted · awaiting admin review

A group folk dance of the Jaunsari community of Jaunsar-Bawar in Dehradun district, performed at festivals and fairs.

TribalWhere: Jaunsar-Bawar, Dehradun district, UttarakhandOccasion: Festivals such as Bissu and the winter Maghotsav, fairs and weddings
Key facts
Performed byMen and women of the Jaunsari community
CostumeTraditional woollen clothes and caps; women wear heavy silver jewellery
Music and instrumentsFolk songs with dhol, damau and ransingha

How it is performed

  1. Men and women form lines or a circle, holding hands.
  2. The dancers move in slow steps, swaying in step with each other.
  3. The songs tell of local deities, heroes and village life.
  4. The pace quickens as the drums speed up, and the dance continues late into the night at festivals.

Significance

The Jaunsari people, who are a Scheduled Tribe, have kept many unique customs, and barada nati is central to their festivals and to their idea of community.

Sources