| State | Folk Dance | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Kuchipudi | A classical dance form that originated in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh, known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and storytelling. |
| Bhamakalapam | A traditional dance performed in the temples of Andhra Pradesh during festivals, depicting various characters from Hindu mythology. | |
| Dappu | A tribal dance form popular among the Lambadi community of Andhra Pradesh, performed to the beat of the dappu drum, usually during weddings and festivals. | |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Buiya Dance | A folk dance of the Digaru Mishmi tribe performed to celebrate harvest festivals, characterized by rhythmic movements and traditional attire adorned with beads and feathers. |
| Popir Dance | A traditional dance of the Adi tribe performed by both men and women, expressing joy and happiness during festivals and ceremonies, accompanied by indigenous musical instruments. | |
| Ponung Dance | A ritualistic dance performed by the Adi Padam tribe of Arunachal Pradesh, usually during the Chalo Loku festival, to worship the goddess of welfare and prosperity, Donyi-Polo, featuring rhythmic movements and colorful costumes. | |
| Assam | Bihu Dance | A vibrant folk dance performed during the Bihu festival in Assam, celebrating the agricultural cycle with energetic movements, rhythmic beats, and traditional Assamese songs. |
| Sattriya Dance | A classical dance form of Assam, recognized as one of the eight classical dance forms of India, known for its fluid movements, graceful gestures, and depiction of mythological stories from the Krishna legend. | |
| Jhumur Dance | A traditional dance of the tea tribes in Assam, performed to the rhythm of the ‘khonj’ and ‘madal’ drums, showcasing the cultural heritage and agricultural traditions of the region. | |
| Bihar | Jat-Jatin Dance | A folk dance of Bihar performed by the Maithili community, portraying the love story of Jat and Jatin, with dancers imitating the movements of birds and animals to express emotions. |
| Jhijhian Dance | A traditional dance of Bihar performed by the fishermen community, depicting the struggles and joys of fishing through rhythmic movements and expressions, often accompanied by folk songs and musical instruments. | |
| Bidesia | A popular folk dance of Bihar, especially in the Bhojpuri region, telling stories of migration, separation, and longing, with dancers expressing emotions through graceful movements and gestures. | |
| Chhattisgarh | Panthi | A folk dance of Chhattisgarh performed by the Satnami community, praising Lord Rama and his victory over the demon king Ravana, with dancers forming circles and moving in rhythmic patterns. |
| Karma | A tribal dance of Chhattisgarh performed during the Karma festival, celebrating the onset of spring and the agricultural cycle, with dancers invoking nature’s blessings through rhythmic movements and rituals. | |
| Saila | A traditional dance of Chhattisgarh performed by the Gond tribe, symbolizing the rhythmic pounding of rice husks, with dancers imitating the movements of birds and animals while singing folk songs. | |
| Goa | Dekhni | A traditional dance of Goa performed by women, expressing emotions of love and longing through graceful movements and swaying gestures, accompanied by folk songs and musical instruments. |
| Fugdi | A lively folk dance of Goa performed during festivals and celebrations, featuring rhythmic footwork, hand gestures, and vibrant costumes, with dancers forming circles and moving in sync to the beats of traditional music. | |
| Corredinho | A Portuguese-inspired folk dance of Goa, known for its quick footwork, lively music, and festive atmosphere, with dancers moving in pairs and performing intricate steps to the rhythm of accordion and guitar music. | |
| Gujarat | Garba | A popular folk dance of Gujarat performed during the Navratri festival, celebrating the victory of good over evil, with dancers forming concentric circles and dancing around a central lamp or deity statue, accompanied by traditional music. |
| Dandiya Raas | A lively folk dance of Gujarat performed during Navratri, featuring dancers wielding decorated sticks called ‘dandiyas’ and performing intricate footwork and rhythmic movements in pairs or groups, accompanied by energetic music. | |
| Tippani | A tribal dance of Gujarat performed by the Bhil community, symbol | |
| Haryana | Ghoomar | A traditional folk dance of Haryana performed by women during festive occasions and weddings, characterized by graceful twirling movements, vibrant attire, and rhythmic clapping, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the region. |
| Khoria | A lively folk dance of Haryana performed by men, featuring energetic movements, foot-tapping beats, and enthusiastic participation, usually during agricultural festivals and celebrations. | |
| Phag Dance | A festive folk dance of Haryana performed during the Phalgun month of the Hindu calendar, symbolizing the joy of spring and the onset of the harvest season, with dancers singing and dancing in groups. | |
| Himachal Pradesh | Nati | A traditional folk dance of Himachal Pradesh performed during religious festivals and social gatherings, characterized by synchronized movements, rhythmic clapping, and colorful costumes, reflecting the cultural ethos of the region. |
| Chamba Dance | A folk dance of the Chamba region in Himachal Pradesh, featuring slow, graceful movements, depicting stories from mythology and daily life, with dancers adorned in traditional attire and jewelry, showcasing the cultural heritage of the area. | |
| Kinnauri Nati | A traditional dance of the Kinnauri people in Himachal Pradesh, performed during celebrations and rituals, with dancers forming circles and moving gracefully to the beats of traditional music, reflecting the local customs and traditions. | |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Rouf | A traditional folk dance of Jammu and Kashmir performed by women during Eid and other festive occasions, featuring intricate footwork, hand movements, and colorful costumes, accompanied by traditional Kashmiri music and songs. |
| Dumhal | A tribal dance of Jammu and Kashmir performed by the Wattal community, characterized by slow, synchronized movements, with dancers carrying colorful flags and performing to the beats of drums and shehnai, reflecting the cultural heritage of the region. | |
| Bacha Nagma | A folk dance of the Kashmiri Pandit community, performed during weddings and social gatherings, featuring rhythmic footwork, graceful movements, and traditional Kashmiri music, reflecting the cultural identity of the community. | |
| Jharkhand | Jhumair | A tribal dance of Jharkhand performed by the Munda tribe during harvest festivals and other celebrations, featuring vigorous movements, rhythmic drumming, and chanting, symbolizing the joy of a bountiful harvest. |
| Paika Dance | A traditional folk dance of Jharkhand performed by the Paika tribe, depicting scenes from daily life, hunting expeditions, and tribal warfare, with dancers using traditional weapons and props to enact various narratives. | |
| Domkach | A vibrant folk dance of Jharkhand performed by the Santhali tribe, celebrating the changing seasons, agricultural activities, and social gatherings, with dancers forming circles and moving to the rhythm of traditional music and songs. | |
| Karnataka | Yakshagana | A traditional dance-drama of Karnataka, blending dance, music, dialogue, and elaborate costumes, depicting stories from Hindu mythology and epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, with vibrant performances and intricate makeup. |
| Dollu Kunitha | A dynamic drum dance of Karnataka performed by the Kuruba community, featuring synchronized drumming, acrobatic movements, and colorful costumes, symbolizing valor, unity, and joy, often seen during cultural processions and festivals. | |
| Kamsale | A ritualistic folk dance of Karnataka performed by the Kuruba Gowda community, involving the rhythmic clang of metal cymbals called ‘kamsale,’ intricate footwork, and devotional songs dedicated to Lord Shiva, reflecting spiritual fervor and devotion. | |
| Kerala | Kathakali | A classical dance-drama of Kerala known for its elaborate makeup, costumes, and expressive movements, depicting stories from Hindu mythology and folklore, with performers trained in intricate gestures, facial expressions, and body movements. |
| Mohiniyattam | A classical dance form of Kerala performed by women, characterized by graceful movements, subtle expressions, and storytelling through dance, expressing devotion, love, and mythology, with performers adorned in traditional attire and jewelry. | |
| Theyyam | A vibrant ritualistic dance-drama of Kerala performed in temples, featuring colorful costumes, elaborate makeup, and ritualistic chants, with performers embodying divine or ancestral spirits and seeking blessings for the community. | |
| Madhya Pradesh | Gaur Dance | A tribal folk dance of Madhya Pradesh performed by the Gaur community during the Gaur festival, celebrating the arrival of spring, with dancers adorned in traditional attire and performing energetic movements to the beat of drums and folk music. |
| Jawara | A traditional folk dance of Madhya Pradesh performed by the Bhil tribe during harvest festivals, symbolizing the joy of a bountiful crop, with dancers forming circles, singing, and dancing to the rhythmic beats of traditional instruments. | |
| Rai Dance | A lively folk dance of Madhya Pradesh performed by the Rai tribe during weddings and festive occasions, featuring rhythmic footwork, hand gestures, and vibrant costumes, with dancers expressing joy, camaraderie, and cultural pride. | |
| Maharashtra | Lavani | A traditional folk dance of Maharashtra performed by women, known for its energetic movements, sensual expressions, and rhythmic music, often accompanied by traditional instruments like the dholki and tabla, reflecting the vibrant culture of the region. |
| Tamasha | A popular folk dance-theater form of Maharashtra, blending music, dance, drama, and comedy, with performers narrating stories, satire, and social commentary through lively performances, engaging audiences with humor, wit, and entertainment. | |
| Koli Dance | A traditional folk dance of the Koli community in Maharashtra, performed during festivals and celebrations, featuring vigorous movements, colorful attire, and rhythmic music, showcasing the cultural heritage and maritime traditions of the coastal region. | |
| Manipur | Manipuri | A classical dance form of Manipur known for its graceful movements, fluidity, and storytelling, depicting themes from Hindu mythology and Manipuri folklore, with dancers adorned in traditional costumes and performing to the beats of live music and singing. |
| Lai Haraoba | A ritualistic dance of Manipur performed during the Lai Haraoba festival, honoring the deities of Manipur, with dancers enacting scenes from creation myths, agricultural rituals, and the life of Lord Krishna, accompanied by traditional music and rituals. | |
| Thabal Chongba | Thabal Chongba is a traditional folk dance of Manipur, performed primarily during the festival of Holi. It is characterized by its circular movements, rhythmic footwork, and hand-holding. Dancers form concentric circles and sway to the beats of drums and cymbals. Participants, adorned in vibrant traditional attire, move gracefully in sync with the music, creating a lively and celebratory atmosphere. Thabal Chongba symbolizes unity, joy, and community spirit, making it an integral part of the cultural heritage of Manipur. | |
| Meghalaya | Wangala Dance | A harvest dance of the Garo tribe in Meghalaya, performed during the Wangala festival, celebrating the bountiful harvest and offering thanks to the Sun God, with dancers adorned in traditional attire and headdresses, showcasing the agrarian culture of the community. |
| Shad Suk Mynsiem | A traditional dance of the Khasi tribe in Meghalaya, performed during the Shad Suk Mynsiem festival, symbolizing thanksgiving to the deities for a good harvest and prosperity, with dancers forming circles and moving gracefully to the beats of drums and indigenous instruments. | |
| Doregata | A folk dance of the Jaintia tribe in Meghalaya, performed during festivals and celebrations, featuring rhythmic footwork, hand gestures, and symbolic movements representing daily life, agriculture, and cultural traditions, reflecting the heritage of the community. | |
| Mizoram | Cheraw | A traditional dance of Mizoram, also known as the Bamboo Dance, performed during festivals and ceremonies, with dancers rhythmically moving bamboo sticks to create intricate patterns, symbolizing agility, coordination, and the unity of the community. |
| Khuallam | A folk dance of the Mizo tribe in Mizoram, performed during joyful occasions and festivities, featuring synchronized movements, hand-clapping, and vibrant costumes, expressing the cultural identity and social cohesion of the community. | |
| Chai Lam | A traditional dance of Mizoram, performed during the Chapchar Kut festival, celebrating the onset of spring and the bountiful harvest, with dancers moving in rhythmic patterns, singing folk songs, and showcasing the agricultural traditions of the region. | |
| Nagaland | Chang Lo | A folk dance of the Chang tribe in Nagaland, performed during agricultural festivals and community gatherings, featuring energetic movements, indigenous music, and vibrant costumes adorned with beads and feathers, reflecting the cultural ethos of the tribe. |
| Zeliang Dance | A traditional dance of the Zeliang tribe in Nagaland, performed during the Moatsu festival, celebrating the completion of sowing seeds and the onset of spring, with dancers forming circles, singing traditional songs, and showcasing the rich heritage of the community. | |
| Rengma Dance | A tribal dance of the Rengma Naga tribe in Nagaland, performed during the Ngada festival, symbolizing thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and invoking blessings for prosperity and well-being, with dancers adorned in traditional attire and ornaments, reflecting the agrarian lifestyle of the community. | |
| Odisha | Odissi | A classical dance form of Odisha, known for its graceful movements, intricate gestures, and storytelling, depicting mythological tales, divine love, and spiritual themes through expressive dance, elaborate costumes, and traditional music. |
| Chhau | A traditional dance-drama of Odisha, performed during festivals and rituals, featuring martial arts movements, acrobatics, and colorful masks, with performers enacting stories from Hindu epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata, showcasing valor and heroism. | |
| Gotipua | A traditional dance of Odisha performed by young boys dressed as female characters, showcasing agility, flexibility, and storytelling through dance, music, and mime, with performers trained in acrobatics, gestures, and expressions, reflecting the cultural heritage of the region. | |
| Punjab | Bhangra | A lively folk dance of Punjab performed during Baisakhi and other festive occasions, featuring energetic movements, foot-tapping beats, and vibrant music, with dancers showcasing strength, vigor, and joyous spirit, reflecting the agricultural traditions of the region. |
| Giddha | A traditional folk dance of Punjab performed by women, expressing joy, camaraderie, and feminine grace through rhythmic movements, clapping, and singing, often accompanied by traditional instruments like the dholak and harmonium, reflecting the cultural ethos of the community. | |
| Jhumar | A folk dance of Punjab performed by men and women during weddings and celebrations, featuring graceful movements, twirls, and footwork, with dancers forming circles and moving to the beats of traditional music, showcasing love, romance, and cultural unity. | |
| Rajasthan | Ghoomar | A traditional folk dance of Rajasthan performed by women during weddings and festivals, featuring graceful twirls, swirling skirts, and rhythmic clapping, with dancers expressing joy, celebration, and devotion, while showcasing the vibrant culture of the state. |
| Kalbelia | by the Kalbelia tribe, known for its snake-like movements and lively music, with dancers wearing traditional black costumes adorned with mirror work and performing to the beats of traditional instruments like the ‘pungi’ and ‘dholak,’ reflecting the cultural heritage of the community. | |
| Sikkim | Singhi Chham | A traditional masked dance of Sikkim performed during religious festivals and cultural events, depicting stories from Buddhist mythology and the triumph of good over evil, with performers wearing colorful costumes and elaborate masks, showcasing the rich Buddhist heritage of the region. |
| Maruni | A folk dance of Sikkim performed by both men and women during festivals like Dashain and Tihar, featuring graceful movements, traditional attire, and singing, with dancers portraying various characters and themes from local folklore, reflecting the cultural diversity of the state. | |
| Tamang Selo | A traditional dance of the Tamang community in Sikkim, performed during weddings, harvest festivals, and other celebrations, accompanied by folk songs and music, with dancers showcasing the cultural identity and traditions of the community through rhythmic movements and expressions. | |
| Tamil Nadu | Bharatanatyam | A classical dance form of Tamil Nadu, known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and elaborate storytelling, depicting themes from Hindu mythology and spiritual concepts, with dancers adorned in traditional attire and performing to classical Carnatic music. |
| Karagattam | A traditional folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed by women balancing clay pots on their heads, accompanied by rhythmic movements, balancing acts, and folk songs, usually performed during temple festivals and auspicious occasions, showcasing skill and grace. | |
| Kavadi Aattam | A ritualistic folk dance of Tamil Nadu performed by devotees during the Thaipusam festival, carrying ornately decorated ‘kavadis’ (burdens) on their shoulders, depicting scenes from the life of Lord Murugan, with dancers expressing devotion and seeking blessings through dance. | |
| Telangana | Perini Tandavam | A traditional dance form of Telangana, characterized by vigorous movements, rhythmic footwork, and powerful expressions, originally performed by warriors before heading into battle, with dancers showcasing valor, strength, and martial prowess through dynamic performances. |
| Lambadi | A vibrant folk dance of Telangana performed by the Lambada tribe, featuring lively movements, colorful attire, and rhythmic beats, usually performed during weddings, festivals, and social gatherings, reflecting the cultural vibrancy and joyous spirit of the community. | |
| Dappu | A tribal dance of Telangana performed by the Yadava and Kuruma communities, featuring rhythmic drumming, chanting, and synchronized movements, often performed during village festivals, weddings, and other auspicious occasions, showcasing traditional cultural practices. | |
| Tripura | Hozagiri | A traditional dance of the Reang tribe in Tripura, performed during the annual Hozagiri festival, featuring graceful movements, balancing acts, and intricate footwork, with dancers balancing earthen pitchers or lamps on their heads, reflecting cultural traditions and heritage. |
| Lebang Boomani | A folk dance of Tripura performed by the Lusai community during festivals and ceremonies, featuring vibrant costumes, rhythmic movements, and singing, with dancers enacting stories from local folklore and mythology, showcasing the cultural richness of the community. | |
| Mamita | A traditional dance of Tripura performed by the Tripuri tribe during weddings and festivals, characterized by graceful movements, hand gestures, and expressions, often accompanied by traditional musical instruments like the flute, drum, and cymbals, reflecting cultural traditions. | |
| Uttar Pradesh | Kathak | A classical dance form of Uttar Pradesh, known for its intricate footwork, expressive gestures, and storytelling, depicting themes from Hindu mythology, historical events, and spiritual concepts, with performers adorned in traditional attire and jewelry, showcasing cultural heritage. |
| Raslila | A traditional dance of Uttar Pradesh performed during the Krishna Janmashtami festival, depicting the divine love of Lord Krishna and Radha, with dancers enacting episodes from the life of Lord Krishna, accompanied by devotional songs, music, and theatrical performances. | |
| Mayur Nritya | A folk dance of Uttar Pradesh performed by the Kalbelia tribe, known for its peacock-themed movements and costumes, symbolizing beauty, grace, and devotion, with dancers imitating the movements of peacocks through rhythmic footwork, hand gestures, and expressions. | |
| Uttarakhand | Langvir Nritya | A traditional dance of Uttarakhand performed by the Langur community, known for its acrobatic movements, balancing acts, and martial arts techniques, with dancers showcasing strength, agility, and courage through dynamic performances, reflecting the tribal heritage of the region. |
| Jhora | A folk dance of Uttarakhand performed by the Tharu tribe, featuring rhythmic footwork, hand-clapping, and traditional music, usually performed during festivals, weddings, and social gatherings, with dancers expressing joy, celebration, and cultural pride. | |
| Chholiya | A martial dance of Uttarakhand performed by the Kumaoni community, featuring swordplay, mock battles, and acrobatic movements, originally performed by warriors as a form of physical training and to demonstrate martial skills, reflecting the martial traditions of the region. | |
| West Bengal | Baul | A traditional folk dance of West Bengal performed by the Baul community, featuring soulful music, philosophical lyrics, and spiritual themes, with performers expressing devotion, mysticism, and the pursuit of divine love through music, dance, and poetry. |
| Santhal | A tribal dance of West Bengal performed by the Santhal tribe, known for its vigorous movements, rhythmic footwork, and vibrant attire, usually performed during weddings, festivals, and agricultural ceremonies, reflecting the cultural heritage and social cohesion of the community. | |
| Chhau | A traditional dance-drama of West Bengal, performed during the Chhau festival, featuring martial arts movements, elaborate masks, and colorful costumes, with performers enacting stories from Hindu epics and mythological tales, showcasing valor, heroism, and cultural pride. |
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