Cultural Facts

Dance Form Description Origin
Bharatnatyam Devadasis did it; Alarippu, Jatiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam, Jawali and Thillana are its parts. Tamil Nadu and Karnataka
Kathakali Ramayana and Mahabharata are themes, elaborate facial colours, music, gestures etc are its parts Kerala
Kathak Persian influence, Lucknow, Jaipur, Raigarh and Banaras are imp Gharanas. UP
Kuchipudi Bhagvata purana it central theme, patronage of Vijayanagra and Golconda rulers. Maduk shabdam, Tarangam, Jala chitra natyam are types Andhra P
Sattriya Dev by Vaishanava saint Shankaradeva in 15th cent., performed by male monks called Bhokots, Ankia Naat is its type. Assam
Ghoomar Rajasthan
Dandiya Ras Gujarat
Lavani Maharashtra
Nautanki Rajasthan
Bhavai Gujarat
Tamasha Maharashtra
Jatra Bengali
Yakshagana Karnataka
Theyyam Kerala
Lazim Maharashtra
Kalariyapayattu Kerala
Chhau Orissa, West Bengal and Bihar
Chai Hia Mizoram
Thabal Chongpa Manipur
Mohiniattam Solo dance dev by Vadivelu, gentle footwork, Nritta and Nritya are its certain aspects Kerala
Odissi Udaygiri-Khandagiri caves provide examples, Gotipuas and Nartala are its types. Mangalacharan, Batu, Pallavi etc are its elements Odisha
Manipuri Originate from Lai Haroba festival, influenced by Vaishnavism. Manipur
Chauu Masked dance, uses martial movements to narrate mythological stories Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal
Garba Gujarat
Tarangamel During Dussehra and Holi Goa
Kalbelia Use of Been is common Rajasthan
Dadra Uttar Pradesh
Jawara Bundelkhand Region Madhya Pradesh
Matki Malwa Region Central India
Gaur Maria By Bison horn Mariah tribes Chhattisgarh
Alkap Associated with Gajan Festival of Shiva Jharkhand, WB
Biraha Portrayal of pain of the women Bihar
Jat-Jatin Mithila Regions quarrel of a married couple. Bihar
Jhumar Harvest dance Jharkhand
Danda-Jatra Theme is generally social harmony and brotherhood Mainly in Odisha
Thang Ta Martial dance Manipur
Rangma/Bamboo dance Nagaland
Singhi Chham Dressed in furry costumes tribute to Kanchenjunga peak Sikkim
Kummi Absence of any accompanying music, performed during pongal Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Mayilattam Dressed as peacock Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Burrakatha Single performer narrates stories from the puranas Andhra Pradesh
Kaikottikali Temple dance during the time of Onam Kerala
Padayani Martial dance use huge masks Kerala
Kolkali-Parichakali Use mock weapons made of wood and enact fight sequences Kerala and Lakshwadeep
Bhootha Aradhane Idols depicting devils are placed on a plinth and the performer then dances vigorously Karnataka
Pata Kunitha Use long bamboo poles Mysore, Karnataka
Chakyar Koothu Solo performance dresses himself as a snake Kerala
Jhoomar Performed in a circle with movements of arms Punjab
Karma Naach Chota Nagpur plateau
Raut Naach Chhattisgarh
Dumhal By the Wattal tribe Jammu & Kashmir
Fugdi By women in varied formations, mostly in circles or rows Goa
Cheraw Men tap long pairs of bamboo Mizoram
Dalkhai During the festival of Dussehra Odisha
Detail Name State
Silk and cotton saree with intricate motifs and geometric ikat style of dyeing Pochampalli Andhra Pradesh
Rich handloom sarees Patola Patan, Gujarat
Depicts ancient stories on its border and pallu. Silk threads are used. Baluchari Murshidabad, West Bengal
Muslin with opaque patterns woven on a transparent background Jamdani West Bengal
Weaving technique involves a single or double warp and two to five colors Tanchoi Brocades Varanasi
Silk, zari and cotton woven together to make a fabric that is lighter than a feather Chanderi Madhya Pradesh
Kasuti embroidery with chariot and elephant as common motifs Ilkal Karnataka
Crisp cotton, printed saree Tant West Bengal
Nine yard sari also known as Kasta saree. Nauvari Maharashtra
Silk and cotton saree with ikat, embroidery and intricate thread work Bomkai Odisha
Fabric usually has either stripes or checks and a wide border and with motifs of animals and natural elements Konrad Tamil Nadu
A silk saree Kosa Chhattisgarh
Silk saree embroidered with gold colour thread and use of parrot as motif Paithani Maharashtra
Use of pen for painting designs Kalamkari Andhra Pradesh
Saree characterized by thick golden border Kasavu Kerala
Ancient mud resist hand block printing technique used on cotton fabric Dabu Chittorgarh, Rajasthan
Technique of ‘Tie and Dye’ it is dipped in the colour and the artists design the fabric Bandhani or Bandhej Rajasthan and Gujarat; Andhra and TN
Kind of tie and dye is called ‘Ikat’, dying on yarn is repeatedly applied before the cloth is woven. Laharia Jaipur and Jodhpur