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Like its excellent rich culture and vibrant tradition, dance and music of Orissa
is also very charming, colorful and encompassing various types of tunes. The existing
dance and musical tradition of Orissa is the cumulative experience of the last two
thousand and five hundred years and can broadly be grouped under various varieties.
Based on the practice and preparations, the music of Orissa are categorized into
five sections. These are Folk music, Tribal music , Light Music , Light Classical
music and Classical Music. Similarly The unique dance form of Orissa has contirbuted
a lot to the classical dance , martial dance and typically traditional dance form
of India .
Mainly classified as five categories, the music of Orissa is really really superb.
Life style, culture and social feelings are the integral part of Orissa's music.
Prepared for enjoyment and merry making the folk Music of Orissa is the treasure
house of folk Songs, which are sung on different festivals and specific occasions
. Folk music in general is the expression of the ethos and mores of the folk communities
. Of the bewildering variety of folk music of Orissa, 'Kela Keluni Geeta', 'Dalkhai
Geeta', 'Kendara Geeta', 'Jaiphula Geeta', 'Ghumura Geeta', 'Ghoda Nacha', 'Danda
Nacha Geeta', 'Gopal Ugala' and 'Osa-Parva-Geeta' etc are famous.
The title Tribal Music signifies to the tribals living mainly in the hilly and jungle
regions . They have their own tradition, culture and rituals and music is an integral
part for symbolising these tradition and culture. Point is that tribal music of
Orissa has its own significance . It is interesting to note that Orissa has the
third largest concentration of tribes cof the total population. and they are distributed
over 62 tribal communities.
The Light Music category of Orissa include varoius categories. Among them 'Sri Geetagovinda',
'Anirjukta Pravadha', 'Divya Manusi Prabandha', 'Chautisa', 'Chhanda', 'Chaupadi'
(now known as 'Odissi'), 'Champu', 'Malasri', 'Sariman', 'Vyanjani and Chaturang.
Bhajan', 'Janan', Oriya songs based on ragas, 'Rangila Chaupadi' etc are grouped
under Light classical music, which forms an important segment of Orissan music.
Sound good this form of music has its own charm.
Classical Music 'Tribhang', 'Kuduka Geeta', 'Laxana' and 'Swaramalika' are the various
sub-forms, which individually or collectively constitute the traditional Odissi
music. These sub-forms of the traditional Odissi music can be categorised under
the classical music of Orissa too.
The present form of traditional Odissi music is no doubt the outcome of the continuous
evolution of the earliest Indian classical music. one may reasonably believe its
inflow during the period of Aryanisation of this land. Possibly Aryan culture crept
into this land during the Age of Brahmans when bulk of Indian peninsula came under
the Aryan influence. Music tinged with religion, attained mass appeal and royal
patronage. As such the royal patronization of Art and Culture made the Orissan music
so developed and enchanting for enjoyment of both Gods and Goddesses and human beings
as well. This tradition is still continuous in its different manifestations.
Among the different schools of dances in India , Orissa has a great contribution
to the classical form of dance. Not only Classical world, extremly rich martial
art and folk dance of Orissa has its significannt and uniquness world wide.
counted as the essence of the state of Orissa, Odissi dance is the highly inspired,
impassioned, ecstatic and sensuous form of dance. Odissi was performed in the temples
of Orissa as a religious rite and offering by the Devadasis known as 'Maharis'.
Odissi is a rich and generous cultural gift of the land, well known for its dedication
to religion and arts . The people of this land raised magnificent temples, each
erected as an act of religious faith and embellished by the skills of master craftsmen,
sculptures and architects. These temples became the centre of art and culture and
it was here that Odissi, one of India's scintillating dance-forms was born, nurtured
and nourished. In Odissi, the technique, the style, its stages, the repertoire and
the finale were almost amorphous. Today Odissi is a well established and codified
classical dance form of India, a dance of love, delight and intense passion, lyrical,
pure, divine and human all rolled into one.
Dancing with the tunes and wearing masks of animals are widely known as Animal Mask
Dance. These form of dances are prevalent in village of south Orissa specially in
the district of Ganjam. The three animal mask dances typical of the area are the
tiger, bull and horse dances. Two persons get into cane frame and conceal themselves
within it. Their legs become the legs of the animals and they perform dance .Particularly
during Thankurani Yatra, when the idols are taken out on the streets, the animal
mask dancers go on dancing before the procession. During the marriage ceremonies
also they lead the bridegroom's procession all the way to the bride's house.
This is regarded as very typical and traditionl form of dance . Dancing with various
acrobatic posture on a bamboo is called Baunsa rani dance. Literally means "The
Bamboo Queen". Mainly little girls exhibit various acrobatic posture on the crossed
bamboo bar as well as on the floor with exquisite scintillating movement synchronized
with the beat of drums and songs. Attracting part is to move round in a folded form
on the top of a single bamboo.
Horse dance in the month of Chitra is known as Chaiti ghoda Nacha . This folk items
is connected with the Sakti cult of coastal Orissa confined to the people of Kaibarta
caste only. This festival is observed by the Kaibartas in the month of Chaitra from
the fool moon day to eight day of Vaisakha. This is in the honour of their caste
deity Vasuli devi. A horse ridden man with the head of a horse well-dressed and
trunk built of bamboo, dances to the tune of Dhola and Mahuri accompanied by songs
composed by the local poets. The dancing party consists of two dancers, one male
and one female, a drumer and a piper. The origin of this dance goes back to the
hoary past. The horse dance is very popular and attracts a large audience.
The Changu dance derives its name from a kind of drum called Changu, which invariably
accompanies the dance. This dance is common to almost all the tribes but is more
popular among the Bhuyans. The peculiar feature of the dance is that the men confront
the girls with music and song and then recede backwards when the girls confront
them. The girls dance standing in a row generally holding each other’s hand.
Orissa has earned name and fame in the international arena for its famous martial
Chhau dance. This variety of dance is prevalent in the princely states of Mayurbhanja,
Nilagiri and Sareikala . This dance is performed exclusively by men. The origin
of Chhau dance is shrouded in obscurity and no historical document in this context
has yet been recovered. Etymologically, Chhau is derived from the Sanskrit word
'chhaya' which means a mask . It is alos told that Chhau is an independent colloquial
Odissi word, meaning to attack or hunt stealthly. It is evidently a war dance. The
steps and movements, the attack and defence, the performers, each holding a sword
and shield, dividing themselves into two parties, the drums and their mode of play,
the huge kettle drum known as 'Dhumusa' a must in the orchestra, its reverberating
powerful beats energizing the dancers, all signify that Chhau dance is unmistakably
originated from marital practices.
Dalkhai the most popular folk-dance of western Orissa. Its performance is very common
on all other festivals such as Bhaijauntia, Phangun Puni, Nuakhai etc. This is mostly
danced by young women of Binjhal, Kuda, Mirdha, Sama and some other tribes of Sambalpur,
Bolangir, Sundargarh and Dhenkanal districts of Orissa . In this form od dance ,
men join them as drummers and musicians. The dance is accompanied by a rich orchestra
of folk music played by a number of instruments . However, the Dhol player controls
the tempo while dancing in front of the girls. It is known as Dalkhai because in
the beginning and end of every stanza the word is used as an address to a girl friend.
The love story of Radha and Krishna, the episodes from Ramayana and Mahabaharata,
the description of natural scenery are represented through the songs. The young
women dance and sing intermittently. The women generally dress themselves with the
colourful Sambalpuri Sari and wear a scarf on the shoulders holding the ends below
in both the hands. Bedecked with traditional jewelry their robust framers sustain
the strains of the dance for long hours.
There are other several form of dances which have its own uniquness. Danda Nata
of Orissa, also known as the 'Danda Jatra' happens to be one amongst the most ancient
ofrm of dance . This is still parctised in the devotion of god. Dasakathia is also
a colourful and popular performance is rendered by two members, one signer (Gayaka)
and the other acccompanist. Ghanta Patua is alos another form of dance. In the whole
month of Chaitra the village streets in Orissa reverberate with the sound of Ghanta
Patua . Ghanta means a form of musical instrument is used rythimically with dance.
Ghoomra is also a typical drum. It is just like a big pitcher with a long stem made
of clay. With the tune of this instrument , the dance performed is called Ghoomra
dance. Similarly the dance form Jhoomar is named after the accompanying Jhoomar
songs is prevalent among the Mahanta and Mundas of tribal communities. Kathinacha
or Stick dancing is also common all over India. In Orissa they are of two varieties
. Kela Keluni dance is another unique form of dance . Here Kelas are a nomadic class
of people in Orissa. Krishna Leela is a separate form of dance . It is also associated
with the cult of Krishna leela has a deep religious flavour. Medha Nacha is a form
of mask-dance and most common during the religious processions in the coastal districts
of Orissa. The most virile and spectacular dance during the religious processions
in the district of Puri is known as Naga Dance. Puppets dance known as Kandhei or
Sakhi Nata, a rare and unusual type of stylised indigenous drama and popular in
many parts of Orissa. Rama Leela, a very popular theatrical performance of Orissa
as elsewhere in India. Ranappa Popular among the coastal areas of Ganjam district,
this dance receives its name after the bamboo stick with the feet.
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