Tribal dances are performed strictly by India`s aboriginal populations. These people, sometimes denominated as adivasi, possess a culture, distinct from the pan Indian population. It may be noted here that Indian tribal dances are vastly dissimilar from Indian folk dances, which can never be related. A common example of a tribal dance is the Santhali dance, indigenous from West Bengal. Other tribal dances of India include the Dhimsa dance by Oriya tribes, the Dhimsa dance, yet another tribal dance from Andhra Pradesh, the Nagaland tribal dances.
The tribal dances in India are inimitable examples of communities in inaccessible existence, still upholding their life, customs and manners. Though adapted to different dialects and customs, the dances` aesthetic expression manifestly reflects the distinct, isolated and primitive social structure and nature of the people. Such tribal dances still survive in as much vigorous manner as ever in the tribal hamlets of the hilly tracts. Each of these aboriginal tribes possesses its own distinguishable dance traditions and invariably all of them are interwoven with the life of the people who dance it.
In some instances of Indian tribal dances, the dancing is awfully simple and comprises little more than insignificant mixing of the feet or waving of the hands. At other times it is just swaying of the body to the clapping of hands, or beating of primitive drums to designate time. Yet another tribal dance form demonstrates only the monotonous movement of the hands and feet. But, generally speaking, a wide range of movement requiring all parts of the body, the head, back, hips, arms, fingers and the feet and even facial muscles are employed in tribal dances.
There exist extremely complicated Indian tribal dances as well, in which dancing melds with gesture, evincing the whole spectrum of sentiment. In such instances, the rhythm is maintained by swaying the body and intricate steps executed with expert foot-work. Usually the dances begin in a slow note, gathering momentum in the middle and working up to a heavy tempo. Which is excellently employed with enthusiastic climax of the drums and the ecstasy of the escalading rhythm of spontaneous music? Many of these tribal dances are heroic or martial in character.
Some Indian tribes pen down their songs themselves to accompany their dances. Either the dancers sing themselves or the onlookers sing and participate. Special musical instruments for Indian tribal dances are also utilised at times, but the drum is almost a requisite feature.
Costumes of the dancers vary from estimated bareness to full attire and ornaments which are exceedingly colourful and ornate. Tribal people make up an indispensable segment of the teeming millions in the country. India owns the second largest tribal sects in Kerala. Paniya, Adiya, Urali, Kattunaikka, Irula, Muduva, Aranadan are the high-flying tribal communities. Some of the more well known tribal dances of Kerala include Elelakkaradi, Kadarkali, Kurumbarkali, Paniyarkali, Edayarkali, Mudiyattam and Vedarkali.
Besides Kerala, India is dotted with tribal dances, surviving strong in different parts of the states and union territories. The remarkable Indian tribal dance "Brato" of Bengal, is essentially an invocational dance, preferred by barren women, worshipping their presiding deity after entreaties for progeny is answered. The legendary "Bihu" dance of Assam is part of the Bihu Utsav after the harvest season is over. Both men and women perform it in daylight. For Bihu, the dancers sing and structure themselves in parallel rows or circles. Drums and pipes accompany the dance and music. The Nagas from Nagaland have their own harvest dance "Khambahim". It is a variety performed by two separate groups of men and women, each standing in a separate row. "Akhu" is another similar Indian tribal dance form.
The Lakshwadeep Islands possess its own folk dance form, named the "Lava". The Dadra and Nagar Haveli tribals have their amiable dance form of "Tarpa", in which the dancers tap their feet on moonlit nights, encircling the "Tarpakar" to dance past midnight. This specific Indian tribal dance is heavily accompanied by music. The "Bhavada" dance utilises masks and colourful costumes in the Dadra and Nagar Haveli region. The state of Tripura, with its large tribal population of Riangs, who venerate both tribal and Hindu Gods, survives on agriculture. To certify a good harvest, they mollify Goddess Lakshmi by a dance of young maidens named the "Hawaii".
Andhra Pradesh houses many tribal sects such as the Bhanjaras, Chenchus and Mathuris. In the "Dandaria dance", apart from instruments, time is also maintained by striking sticks one against the other. The Bhanojaras and the Lambadis have costumes of light hues and skirts and blouses studded with small mirrors. Their dance form is called "Bhanjara". This Indian tribal dance kind has agriculture as the elementary theme, with the women going round and round, clapping with gestures suggestive of agrarian occupations.
In Tamil Nadu, the Toda and the Kurumba tribals have rites, rituals and ceremonies, all revolved around agriculture. Kummi and Kolattam are the two most famous folk dances performed by the tribal women of Tamil Nadu. In Kummi, claps maintain the beat, while in Kollattam beat is sustained by striking two sticks. In this form of Indian tribal dance, each dancer possesses two sticks often painted in dazzling colours. In "Pinnal Kolattam", some divisions of the group systematically work up a visual pattern, lacing coloured ropes together, hung from a peg in the ceiling, synchronous with the music. In course of the dance, the "Pinnal" or the plait is also slowly disentangled to synchronise with the music and the ropes are back to their single-strand shape, precisely when the dance and the music stops. The Muslim community of Tamil Nadu possess a monopoly over the dance called "Pulli Atam", where the men folk dress ornately like a stripped carnivore, with tail, claws, whiskers etc. and dance in the streets. "Karagam" is another Indian tribal dance form of Tamil Nadu dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, the Goddess of health and rain. Men and women balance pots of uncooked rice on their heads to the accompaniment of pipes and drums.
"Kunitha" is a generic term, emblematic of a ritualistic dance in Karnataka. In the "punja Kunitha", a wooden structure is balanced on the head with a deity within it. The "Dollu Kunitha" is a much-admired drum dance of Karnataka. The men play on large drums decorated with colored cloth, slung around their necks, beating on it as they dance. Indian tribal dances are truly varied and umpteen, much like the country`s other aspects, united with diversity.
