Toshali Sands

Orrissa: Tribal Dances

Chhow dance
This tribal dance, whose origin has been unknown for sometime now, shall keep you enthralled by its richness, vibrancy and colourfulness. With the flavour of folk, tribal and classical dances in it, the Chhow mainly has themes drawn from the two great Indian epics - the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Chhow dancers generally emote the feelings of love, romance, chivalry and victory of good over evil.

Ranapa
Dancers make use of long bamboo poles and balance of them and do the dance.

Chaiti ghoda dance
It is a festival dance of the fishing community with three central characters including a horse.

Koya dance
Koya dance of the Koya tribe has women holding sticks fitted with brass bells that they beat on the ground while dancing. Male participants play huge drums (called Dhols) sporting turbans fitted with bison borns.

Songs and dances are an integral part of festivals of various tribes and communities all over the state.