The performance of the Dalkhai dance in Orissa is very common & it is same for other festivals such as Bhaijauntia, Phangun Puni, Nuakhai etc. The dance is known as Dalkhai dance because in the beginning and at the end of every stanza the word is used as an address to a girl friend.

Young women of Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha, Sama and some other tribal communities from Sambalpur, Bolangir, Sundargarh and Dhenkanal districts mostly perform this dance. For the performance, men join them as drummers and musicians. The famous love story of Radha-Krishna, the episodes from Ramayana and Mahabaharata, the description of natural scenery are depicted through the lyrics of songs. Usually, an orchestra of folk music that includes a number of instruments known as Dhol, Nisan & Tamki accompanies the dance. Nisan is a typically giant drum, which is made up of iron case, & Tamki is a tiny one-sided drum played by two sticks. Sometimes, a one-sided drum named Tasa and Mahuri are also played for music. However, the Dhol player controls the tempo of the dance through its beats, by dancing in front of the girls.

At the time of dancing on the rhythms of the Dhol, the performers place their legs close together and bend both the knees. In some another movement, they move in a forward and backward direction in a half-sitting position. Sometimes, as the dance proceeds further they make concentric circles in clock-wise and anti-clock-wise direction.

Generally, the dancers wear a colourful Sambalpuri Sari and a scarf on the shoulders holding the ends below in both the hands. All the dancers are bedecked with traditional jewelry and perform the dance for long hours. The Dalkhai dance has several forms that are equally popular, some of them are known as Mayalajada, Rasarkeli, Gunji kuta, Jamudali, Banki, Jhulki, Sainladi etc. As per the style, theme and performance Dalkhai is basically a secular form of performance.