Home > Arts & Culture > Indian Dances > Vrata Dance
Vrata Dance
Vrata form of ritual dance is performed by the women who visit houses for collecting alms with which they offer puja to goddess Sitala.

Share this Article:

Vrata Dance, West BengalA vrata form of ritual dance is practised by women of Hindu families in Bengal. In the erstwhile Bengal, the vrata form of ritual dance was widely practiced in the village of Rajghat, Jessore District. During the vrata the women of this village and other nearby villages visit an ancient temple of the goddess Sitala. This goddess is believed to avert many diseases and even bareness. Five to seven days before the chief puja, the preceding ceremonies begin to be observed by the women in their individual houses. All the ladies take a solemn vow of observing a strict fast on the vrata day. The adult women of the village are invited for the occasion. Together they all match ahead to the bathing ghat reciting prayers. On arriving at the ghat, the women observing the vrata places a brass pot on a small tray (kula) and placing it on her head she enters into the water completely immersing herself. Having completed the ceremonial bath the woman along with all the members return back home, carrying the sacred pot on her head. Upon reaching home she places the pot in a sacred place and through night they all sing religious songs with no instrumental accompaniment. The songs sung always begin with a `Bandana`, or invocation.

During the days of the ceremony, the women along with the sacred pot in the kula visit all the houses in the village begging for alms. At each house they beg for rice or money with which the contemplated puja performed. As the members reach individual houses the chief lady spreads a ceremonial cloth (asan) on the floor. She then places the sacred pot along with the kula in the centre of the cloth surrounding which all the ladies perform solemn dances with the accompaniment of the `dhak.` This dhak is played by a man of the Rishi caste. This goes on for five to seven days according to the vrata after which they advance to the shrine of Sitala and offer the puja. The pujas and the dances that follow are performed with much reverence. The dancers form a ring and slowly move round with very little foot-work. These dances are executed by the members of the village irrespective of castes, class and status.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Dances


Methil Devika
Methil Devika is an Indian dancer, choreographer and dance research scholar hailing from Palakkad, Kerala.
Dance of Kali
Dance of Kali is performed in accompaniment of Mahadeva where the performer reflects the vigorous and grotesque forms of dance of Goddess Kali. The dance is a form of worshipping Goddess Kali in her most aggressive form symbolizing destruction of evil.
Folk Dances of Kerala
Folk Dances of Kerala have been very popular and diverse. There are around 50 folk dances in Kerala that are performed during various occasions.
Folk Dances of Maharashtra
Folk dances of Maharashtra reflect the state's rich cultural heritage and traditions. Prominent forms include Lavani, Tamasha, Lezim, and Gondhal, each associated with specific communities and occasions. These dances combine music, rhythm, and storytelling, often performed during festivals, rituals, and social gatherings, preserving regional identity across generations.
Folk Dance of Tamil Nadu
The traditional and cultural values of Tamil Nadu are reflected in their folk dance. The state has both features and regional autonomy authentic to itself. The folk dances are there since a long time and have made an important cultural representation all around the globe.