Hojagiri
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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.
TribalWhere: TripuraOccasion: Hojagiri festival after the harvest, around Lakshmi Puja in autumn; also stage shows
| Performed by | Reang (Bru) girls and women dance; men sing and play the music |
|---|---|
| Costume | Traditional rignai and risa, with silver coin necklaces, bangles and earrings |
| Music and instruments | Songs by men with the khamb (drum), bamboo flute and cymbals |
How it is performed
- The dancers stand on earthen pitchers or the floor, keeping the upper body almost still.
- They balance a bottle on the head, with a lighted lamp placed on top of it.
- Holding plates or a lamp in the hands, they sway and turn by moving the waist and legs.
- Some dancers bend down and pick up objects from the ground without dropping what is balanced on the head.
Significance
Hojagiri is performed to honour Mailuma, the goddess of grain, after the harvest. Its balance and control have made it the best-known dance of Tripura on national stages.