Nepal as a whole has more than 100 different ethnic groups and, expectedly, what you get is a multitude of languages and culture including of course, a fascinating variety of dances. Here are the more popular Nepali dances of the hills.
Dances of Nepal
Maruni Dance: A popular dance of the eastern hills, it was originally performed only during the Tihar festival when the dancers go from house to house. It is now performed during other festivals too. Previously, males dressed as females used to be the dancers, but nowadays young girls perform the dance which also includes a joker like figure (dhatu waray, meaning liar) who injects humour into the routine. Based on the shingar ras (‘beautiful expression’), nine instruments (naumati baja) provide the music in which the beats of the madal (a two headed drum) and the tune of the bansuri (flute) predominate. In the western hills, the Maruni dance is performed in July-August and ends in December-January.
Sorathi Dance: A group dance of the western Nepal’s Gurungs, it is performed over 16 days between the Dashain and Tihar festivals. It re-enacts the legend of a king had seven wives but was childless nonetheless. The youngest queen at last bears a daughter whom the other queens throw into a river out of jealousy. The child is saved by a fisherman who raises her as his own. The dance enacts all this and at the end, the plot is revealed, with the mother and daughter reunited and the guilty ones punished.
Ghatu Dance: Another Gurung dance, it is performed by pre-pubertal girls (called ghansaris or ghatonis). Beginning during Magh Panchami (near January-end) the dance ends on Baisakh Purnima (around April-end or beginning of May) with the final episode performed over three days. The dancers dance trance-like with closed eyes clad in a ghanto dress that includes traditional jewellery and special headgear. The movements involve twisting, rising, sinking and then turning in squatting positions with hands barely touching the ground; all this to the hypnotic chant of a ballad accompanied by the beat of madals. The life story of King Parsuram and his queen including his death and her immolation (sati) and subsequent reincarnation are all re-enacted in this leisurely dance form. Ghanto dances are of three types: Sati, Baramasye and Kusunda ghanto with the first being of a rigid nature while the other two are of more flexible nature.
Tamang Selo Dance: A vigorous dance of the inhabitants of the country’s middle hills, the Tamangs, it is a group dance performed during rituals and communal ceremonies. The rhythmic beat of the damphu (a hand held drum) accompanies the dance; it is also known as damphu dance.
Shebru Dance: This dance is performed by Sherpa communities living in the Himalayan regions. Shebru means feet (shybru) and rhythm (ru),
The Magars and Gurungs have a dance called Khyali dance during which young men compete in displaying their talents so as to win a wife for themselves. Some other dances of the hills are the Dhan and Chyabrung dances of the Limbus,; the Jhayure dance, also of the Limbus, Magars and Gurungs; and the Magars’ Kauda dance that is based on the theme of love. The Rodhi dance is a Gurung dance performed in the rodhi ghar (a communal home to facilitate interaction between young folks) which was once hugely popular. The Tappa dance is a dance of Dang district of far western Nepal which begins slowly and picks up tempo towards the end. The Chudka dance is another group dance of the eastern and western hills performed during Phagu Purnima in March.Fasting women in red saris and heavily laden jewellery dance the Sangini dance during the three day long festival of Teej (in August).
Classical Dance
Kumari Dance: Kumari dance is dedicated to living Goddess “Kumari”. This is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal.
Manjushree Dance: Manjushree dance is performed and dedicated to Manjushree.
Panache Buddha Dance: This dance is performed to represent Pancha Buddha. Panache Buddha means Five Buddha. There are five dancers. Each dancer performing has his particular posture, color and direction. Five Buddha are the five transcendental Buddhas of tantric Buddhism. According to Bajrayana, five Buddha’s are Vairochana “The Brilliant One”, Aksobhaya “The Unshakable”, Ratnasambhava “The Matrix of the Jewel”, Amitabha “The Infinite Light”, and Amoghasiddhi “The Infallible Realization”.
Bajrayogini Dance: This dance is named after the goddess, Bajrayogini. It is one of the ancient classical dances of Nepal. According to the tantric Buddhism, there are four Yoginis or tantric goddesses in the Kathmandu Valley. This dance is performed specially as a devotation to goddess Bajarayogini in Shakhu. In this dance symbolic movements of hands and huger is skillfully timed with general body movements and facial expressions. This dance shows beautiful mixture strong sense of protection, preservation, anger and peaceful emotions. This dance is preformed mainly in the Buddhist temples during special occasions.
Arya Tara Dance: This is a popular Classical dance of ancient Nepal. This dance is devoted to Arya Tara better known as “The Holy Mother” in ancient mythology. The song of this dance describes various qualities of Arya Tara. This dance is specially preformed in rituals followed during religious festivals and ceremonies wearing full ceremonial dress.
Nepalese Regional Dance
We Nepali are very fond of dancing and singing. There are numerous types of folk dances all across Nepal. Few among all are Tamang Selo, Juhari and Chutki .
Tamang Selo: Tamang Selo is usually performed by the Tamangs. This dance is performed beating a damphu a solo or in a group. This dance is also known as damphu-natch. In Tamang language this dance is call tam- syaba.
Juhari or Dohori: This dance is also known as gambling or dual dance. This dance is performed in group during festivals and fairs and in Rodhi Ghar.
Chutki: This dance is generally performed by Chhetris, Bahnus, Gurungs and Magars. The Chhetris and Bahuns perform Chutki to the rhythmic beats of Khaijadi. The Gurungs and Magars use madal. This dance is performed with full of speed and movement of body.
Dhan Nach: This is the dance of Limbus. Young boys and girls hold each other and control each other from side to side swing their feet in the beat of Chyabrung.
Karua: Kaura dance is performed by the Magars and Tamangs in groups. Both men and men, women and women or men women can perform this dance.
Balan: Blan nach is especially performed by the Chhetris and Bahuns during religious ceremonies. The importance of this dance is the performance of “Lilas” (acts) of different gods and goddess.
Maruni Dance: Maruni is one of the most loved dances in Nepal. A male dancer disguises as women. He wears long frock like dress. Other members sing and make music. A dhatuware somewhat like a jester accompanies the team.
Bethi: Bethi dance involves panche baja. This dance is performed during resettling time.
Sorathi: Sorathi dance is like maruni. It is also known as madalay-nach (dance with a traditional drum) performed once in a year especially in the Rodi Ghar.
Sakela Sili: Sakela Sili is a dance performed by Rais during festival of sakela. This is perhaps the longest group dance. This dance sometimes continues for many days.
Lakhe: Lakhe dance is a very important dance of Nepal. Every year during fall this dance is performed in the city. It is performed by the Newari community. Dances dress and perform as monster wearing masks during festivals.
Matrikastam: This is one of the other forms of mask dance performed by Newars during dashain festival.
Jungwa: Jungwa is a ceremonial dance performed by Tamang priest.
Mhendomaya: This is the dance where men and women dance together forming two separate rows. This Tamang dance, is also similar to Kaura and Cholmu dances.
Sangini: This is a sophisticated dance performed by Chhetris and Bahramin women during the festival of teej. Women perform this dance holding plates of Kansha (branze) or diyo (ceremonial lamp) or carrying Kalash (vessel) on the head. It is a slow dance and depends entirely on movement of hand and feet.
Jhyaware: This is one of the most popular and widely performed dances in Nepal.
Deura: This is the dance performed by Damai community. Naumati baja (a traditional band consisting of nine instruments) is played and dance is performed.
Khukuri Nach: This dance is performed by the Gorkha soldiers. This dance is performed holding khukuri in their hands. This dance is performed to represent power and pride.
Jhyaure Dance: Jhayure dance is popular in Gandaki zone. This dance is performed by the young boys and girls to express the joy of meeting theirs lovers.
Tappa Dance: This dance is popular in Dang of Rapti Zone. The dance starts as a slow dance and then speeds up in the end. This dance is based on beating of the Madal. This gives the name ‘Tappa’ to the dance.
Sorathi Dance: It is very popular dance performed by the Gurungs. They have a very interesting dance tradition. The main dancer, (always a male dancer) represented Jaisinge Raja (a King) dances in turn with sixteen female dancers representing sixteen queens. Two male dancers other than the main dancer dance beating their drums. Madal is palyed to provide background music.
Yak and Yeti dance: This dance is performed in the high mountain areas. This dance is done paying homage to Yak. Yaks are the only animal used as transportation and carry loads in high altitudes. Also there is a belief that yeti is seen in the mountains of Nepal. This dance is also done to remember Yeti.
Newari (Dhime): This dance is popular among the Newar Community. This dance is performed during harvest seasons. It is believed that this form of dance originated during 13th century Malla period. Dhime Dance is associated with high culture. This dance has great cultural sighificance. It is performed only during special occasions.
Sherpa Dance: Sherpa dance belongs to Sherpa community. The Sherpa lives in the Himalayas. The Sherpa are people performing feasting, singing and dancing. They sing and dance to enjoy and celebrate meetings with theirs friends and family.
Bhojpuri: This is very popular dance of Terai region. This dance is important for the movements of the body and facial expressions. Bhojpuri dance represents romantic dance of spring and autumn festivals. This is the time when young people try attracting each other.
Dhimal: Dhimals live in eastern tarai. They are rich in culture. Dhimal dance is always performed in group. Both male and female dance together. They wear traditional costumes of fishing during their dance.
Ghatu: This dance is popular in the Gandaki Zone. This dance is also known as ‘Bara Mase Ghatu’. This dance performed only by the unmarried girls.
Khali: Khali dance is just performed to have fun. With the beat of the madal young people sing and dance gathering in the chautari. There is playful teasing and flirtating during this dance. Young men and women can win wives and men in contests if they can beat their challenger.
Jhijhiya Dance: It is the dance performed by group of young women. This dance is performed during Dashami. Women carry lanterns with holes and diyos inside it. This allows the atmosphere to lighten up. The lantern covered with its lid. Women purposely dance with these lanterns on their heads. They dance in a pattern where the holes in the lantern can be counted. This dance is influenced by Tantric belief and preformed mainly to protect people from evil spirits.
Chandi Dance: This dance is performed by Kirati Rai’s. They worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parbati. Chandi dance is performed praying to lord shiva and goddess Parvati for peace and success in the village. They worship for good crops. This dance is also very special because it has to be performed with charming and cheerful faces.
Peacock Dance: Peacock is a holly bird. Male Peacock starts to spread its feather and dance when clouds gather and thunder starts. The dancer pretends to be a peacock and perform the dance as a peacock does during rain.
Jhankri or Witch Doctor: Jhakri or witch Doctor plays a very important role in the rural life. People do not get proper health facility. They go to Witch doctor instead. This witch doctor performs many postures of dances during the process of treating sick people.
