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Garia Dance : The life and
culture of Tripuris revolve
around Jhum(shifting)
cultivation. When the sowing of
seeds at a plot of land selected
for Jhum is over by middle of
April, they pray to the God 'Garia'
for a happy harvest. The
celebrations attached to the
Garia Puja continue for seven
days when they seek to entertain
their beloved deity with song
and dance.
Lebang
Boomani Dance
After the Garia festival is
over, the Tripuris have a time
to rest awaiting the monsoon.
During this period, folks of
charming colorful insects called
'Lebang' use to visit hill
slopes in search of seeds sewn
on it. The annual visit of the
insects renders the tribal
youths to indulge in
merry-making. While the men-folk
make a peculiar rhythmic
sound
with the help of two bamboo
chips in their hand, the women
folk run tottering the hill
slopes to catch hold of these
insects called 'Lebang'. The
rhythm of the sound made by the
bamboo chips attracts the
insects from their hiding places
and the women in-groups catch
them. With the change of time
jhuming on hill slopes are
gradually diminishing. But the
cultural life that developed
centering round the jhum delved
deep into the society. It still
exists in the state's hills and
dales as a reminiscence of the
life, which the tribal of today
cherish in memory, and preserve
as treasure. In both the dances
Tripuris use the musical
instruments like Khamb made of
Bamboo, Flute, Sarinda, Lebang
made of bamboo and bamboo
cymbal. Tripuri women generally
put on indigenous ornaments like
chain made of silver with coin,
Bangle made of silver, ear and
nose rings made of bronze. They
prefer flower as ornaments.
Hozagiri Dance
While the theme of the dance
remains almost to be the same as
of other tribes, the dance form
of the Reang community is quite
different from others. The
movement of hands or even the
upper part of the body is
somewhat restricted, whereas the
movement beginning from their
waist down to their feet creates
a wonderful wave. Standing on an
earthen pitcher with a bottle on
the head and a lighted lamp on
it, when the Reang belle dance
twisting rhythmically the lower
part of the body, the dance
bewilders the onlookers. The
Reangs also use the musical
Instruments like Khamb, Flute
made of bamboo and bamboo
cymbal. The Reang women prefer
to put on black Pachra and Rea.
Reang women put on coins ring,
which generally covers their
entire upper region. They also
put on rings made of coin in
their ears. They are fond of
fragrant flowers as ornaments to
metal things.
Bizu
Dance
This popular form of dance is
characteristic of the Chakma
community. Bizu means 'Chaitra-Sankranti'.
'Chaitra-Sankranti' denotes end
of Bengali calendar year. It is
during this period when the
Chakmas sing and dance to bid
good-bye to the year just being
ended and welcome the new year.
The dance is beautifully
orchestrated with the rhythm
playing of what is known as 'Khenggarang'
and 'Dhukuk' sorts of flutes.
The Chakma women are fond of
flower, which they often use in
their hair. They also use metal
ornaments.
Hai-Hak
Dance
Like other tribal community of
this State the social and
economic life of the Halam
community also revolve around
jhum cultivation. At the end of
the harvesting season the Malsum
traditionally adore Goddess
Laxmi. They enjoy this festive
occasion for their famous
Hai-Hak dance. It is also a
community dance with exquisite
beauty. Rhythms of the dance
reflect the tradition inherited
from distant past.
Wangala
Dance
After the happy harvest 'Wangala'(1-st
rice eating ceremony) is
performed in every houses. The
Sangnakma, head of the
communities visits every house
and cuts a pumpkin as a part of
worship. This pumpkin is
sacrificed on this occasion.
After that the women dance to
the beat of 'Dama' and 'Aaduri'
made of buffalo horn. The dance
projects the rehearsal for war.
Welcome
Dance
The Lusai girls are well
dressed. They generally wear
their colorful cloth. They
performed welcome dance whenever
any visitor pay visits to their
house. This is very colorful
dance where young girls of the
entire community take part.
Their dress is so colorful that
the ornaments are not very much
required except fragrant
flowers.
Cheraw
Dance
The Darlong reposes faith in
after life. They believe that
man is destined to go to Haven
after death. Incidentally, they
think that if a pregnant woman
dies, she feels it very
difficult, with all her physical
strains, to track the long
journey to Heaven. Hence at the
last stage of her pregnancy - in
fact just at the time or
immediately prior to delivery
all her relatives perform this
'Cheraw' dance in-group
throughout day and night so as
to instill confidence in the
mind of that woman. They are
firm in their belief that even
if the woman dies at this
juncture. It will be possible
for her to go Heaven with the
courage and confidence together
with joy gained through the
sound of bamboo as the rhythm of
the dance produced till her
death.
Way
(Lamp) Festival
The people of Mog community
observe austerity from the full
moon of Bengali month of Ashad
down to the full moon Bengali
month of Ashwin. Generally no
auspicious occasion of Ashad
down to the full moon of Bengali
month of Ashwin. Generally no
auspicious occasion like
marriage is celebrated during
the period. Even the married
women do not go to their
parents' house during this time.
'Way' festival is celebrated on
the day of full moon of the
Bengali month of Ashwin. Lamps
dedicated to the Lord Buddha are
launched on this day. The young
boys and girls stand in rows
with lamps in hand to worship
the Lord Buddha. The youngsters
indulge in merriment through
songs and dances in the premises
of Buddha temple. The
traditional dance of the Mog
community is known as 'Way
Dance' or 'Lamp Dance'.
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