folk dances – Arunachal Pradesh PCS Free Notes

Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh

The folk song of Pailibos relate more to their folk history, mythology and description of their known past.
Themes of songs are like fables involving creatures or the animal and urgent words signifying moral deduction.
Music & dance are an integral part of every festival and occasion, taking place in Arunachal Pradesh.
Every festival is celebrated with much fun & fair, which also includes music and dance.
The folk dances and Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh are are generally performed in groups, in which both men & women participate.
There are also famous tribal songs and dances generally performed on marriage occassions, harvet time or on every aspecious event.
Dance forms an important aspect of the socio-cultural heritage of the people of Arunachal Pradesh.
The people of Arunachal dance on important rituals, during festivals and also for recreation. The dances of the people of Arunachal are group dances, in which both men and women participate.
There are some dances such as igo dance of the Mishmi priests, war dance of the Adis, Noctes and Wanchos Tribal dance, ritualistic dance of the Buddhist tribes, which are specifically male dances. Females are not allowed to take part in these dances.

Experience the Dance & Music

Some of the popular folk dances of the people of Arunachal Pradesh are Aji Lamu (Monpa), Roppi (Nishing), Buiya (Nishing), Hurkani (Apatani), Popir (Adi), Pasi Kongki (Adi), Chalo (Nocte), Ponung (Adi), Rekham Pada (Nishing), Lion and Peacock dance (Monpa) and so on.
Most dances are performed to the accompaniment of songs sung generally in chorus.
Musical instruments like drums and Cymbals are played along with the songs sung for the dances.

Following are their chief folksong, sung on different occasion:

Ja-Jin-Ja Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh:

On occasion of feasts and merriment, during marriages or other social meets, this song is sung.
This song is sung especially during the social gatherings such as marriages, family feasts and friendly get-togethers.
The song lightens up the mood and provides a spirit of mirth and merriment to the people.
This folk song is sung by both males and females but gradually everyone lends their voice as the celebration peaks.

Baryi Folk Song Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh:

It is a song which narrate their history, their religious lore and mythology.
Its whole cycle takes hours to complete. It is also a feature of festivals or of occasion of important social or religious gatherings.
Both Ja-Jin-Ja and Baryi produce a nostalgic feeling in Pailibos as the glories of the past ancestors are narrated through them.

Nyioga Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh:

It is sung when a marriage ceremony is concluded and the bridal party returns leaving the bride in her home. The theme is that of the joy. It contains pieces of advice to the bride for her future life.

ZIRO FESTIVAL OF MUSIC

This festival is Arunachal’s own version of the Sunburn Festival.
Ziro Festival of Music is the biggest outdoor music festival in the state and is the most happening event in Arunachal Pradesh as well.
Music lovers from all over the state and the North East region gather at Ziro, where this festival takes place.
It is a four-day festival where the music lovers enjoy the performances of international and domestic music artists.
Folk acts from all across the North East are also organized; therefore it is a good opportunity to learn about the different cultures here.
People make merry and spend four unforgettable days at the Ziro Festival of Music.

Musical Instruments used during singing

Music is an important component of the performing arts like dance and drama, and of rituals. Each community has its own style of music and tradition of songs.
There are essentially two ways to make music:

With the human voice
With an instrument.

The musical instruments are classified on the basis of the scientific principle used to create the sound they make. They are briefly described below.

Percussion Instruments: These instruments are struck to produce sound. Often these are used to produce the taal or beat and do not produce all the musical note or cymbals.
Wind Instruments: These need air to flow through them to produce soundóbansuri or flute.
String Instruments: These are instruments that use one or many tightly tied strings that when struck vibrate to create soundóthe veena or ektara.
Drums: A drum is made of a membrane stretched across a hollow frame and played by striking the dholak or mridangam.

Basic/General Features of Folk Music across India as well as Arunachal

India has a very rich and varied tradition of folk music.
The extreme diversity in rural culture spawns endless varieties of folk styles.
Each region has its own particular approach and repertoire.
There is a tendency to lump folk music along with tribal music, but strictly speaking this is not correct.
Where folk music is a rustic reflection of Indian society at large, tribal music often reflects cultures that are very different.
Some of these tribal cultures are throwbacks to society as it was thousands of years ago.
Folk and tribal music is not taught in the same way that Indian classical music is taught.
There are no formal periods of apprenticeship where the student is able to devote their entire time to learning music; the economic realities of rural life do not permit this.
Folk musicians must still attend to their normal duties of farming, hunting, or whatever their chosen occupation is.
Folk music is learned almost as if by osmosis. From childhood, the music is heard and imbibed as a simple matter of life.
There are many public activities that allow the villagers to practice their musical skills.
Folk music is an indispensable part of functions such as weddings, births and engagements.
There is a vast body of songs for each occasion.
There are also songs associated with harvesting and planting. In these activities, the villagers routinely sing of their fears, hopes and aspirations.
Folk music is also used for education.
There is a ceremony when a girl has her first period.
In this function, the elderly women in the village gather at the house (men are excluded), the girl is given her first langa and woni (the half sari which is worn by unmarried women), rich food and other presents.
At this time, the women sing songs that are extremely bawdy.
To an outsider, this would seem out of character for obviously respectable community members.
However, the purpose of such Folk Songs of Arunachal Pradesh is to provide the girl’s first instructions on her emerging womanhood and what her future duties as a wife will be.

Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

The state of Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India is home to many tribes originated mainly from Tibeto-Burman family.
Various tribal folk dance forms have emerged at times to celebrate the festivities and sometimes to elevate the spirit of goodness.
The Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh can be broadly classified into four distinct groups of dances typically enacted for a host of purposes.
Festive Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh performances which are mainly festival orientated folk dances celebrated during special occasions.
Ritualistic dance is Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh done with much exuberance during certain rituals.
Recreational dances performed as part of recreational purposes
These dances are not performed as part of any ritual or festival though they are part of certain occasions creating a happy and cheerful atmosphere.
The Dance Drama or the Pantomimes which aim at depicting a mythical story entitled with a moral.
Dance forms an important aspect of the socio-cultural heritage of the peole.
They dance on important rituals, during festivals and also for recreation.
The Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh of the people of Arunachal are group- where both men and women take part.
There are however some dances such as igo dance of the Mishmi priests, war dance of the Adis, Noctes and Wanchos, ritualistic dance of the Buddhist tribes, which are male dances. Females are not allowed to participate in these dances.
Some of the popular folk dances of the people are Aji Lamu(Monpa), Roppi(Nishing), Buiya(Nishing), Hurkani(Apatani), Popir(Adi), Pasi Kongki(Adi), Chalo(Nocte), Ponung (Adi), Rekham Pada (Nishing), Lion and Peacock dance (Monpa) and so on.
Most dances are performed to the accompaniment of songs sung generally in chorus.
Musical instruments like drums and Cymbals are played.

Mask-Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

Religious beliefs of some tribal communities especially in Arunachal Pradesh have been influenced in some respect by Hinduism and Buddhism.
The Sherdukpens and the Monpas perform many kind of ritual masked dances of which Thutotdam is most fascinating.
The dancers put on masks representing skulls and wear costumes designed as skeletons.
The ritualistic dance depicts how the soul after death is received in the other world.
At Torgyap Festival many such kinds of masked dances are performed which aim at driving away evil spirits and ensuring prosperity, good harvest and favourable weather throughout the year.

Arpos Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

The Monpas perform Arpos dance in which about twenty-five dancers, wearing helmets and carrying sword and shields like ancient warrior, depicts how the ancestors of the tribe conquered their enemies.
The performance concludes with a dance number called Gallong Chham in which about ten dancers perform wearing very colourful costumes and sumptuous headgear.
Of all the masked pantomimes that the Sherdukpens perform, the most fasicinating is the Yak dance.
The dummy animal is formed by two men concealed behind a black cloth that forms its body.
The head of the dummy Yak is made of wood. On its back sits the figure of a goddess. Three masked men dance around the dummy animal.
They represent the legendary hero Apapek and two sons.
Verrier Elwin in The Art of the North-East frontier of India reports,”The lamas of the Yang Sang Chu valley in northern Siang have masked dances which they perform every year at the week-long festival of Drubachuk to ensure prosperity, happiness and health.

Bardo Chham Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

Bardo Chham is a folk dance of Arunachal Pradesh and a crucial ritual among the ethno-various group of north-east people.
Folk dances are performed during festivals and likewise as leisure routine.
These primitive tribal communities living at the Himalayan skirt for centuries were able to retain their targeted tradition of thousand years.
Their zests for existence and nature have enabled these rough working tribes of north east Himalayas choreograph some superb folk dances. One of the most widespread folks dance of Arunachal Pradesh incorporating the struggles of Adi tribe, Igu dance of Mishmi clergymen, ritualistic performances of Buddhist tribe.

Adi Tribal Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

Adi tribal dance from India’s north-east! This is being performed at the Brahmaputra Festival in Siang, Arunachal Pradesh, India.
Dances form a vital element in the zest and joy of living of Arunachali tribal.
They dance on important rituals, during festivals and also for recreational reasons.
They vary from highly stylised religious dance dramas of the Buddhists to the martial steps and colourful performances.

Ponung Folk Dances of Arunachal Pradesh

It is the famous folk dance of Adi tribal people.
This is a dance performed by women alone.
The purpose of this festival is to ask for a good harvest and welfare of the village community.
This dance is performed on all-important & auspicious occasions.
Among the Adis dance had evolved almost into an art form for entertainment and recreation.
The ‘Phoning’ dance of Adis is performed by teams of young girls in perfect rhythmic unison.
Similar group dance in colourful costumes are performed by Nishis and Tagins of Upper and Lower Subansiri Districts.
Adi village has a rich cultural life. The tribal people are famous for their Ponung that is dancing with the accompaniment of songs.
A group of girls dance in a circle holding each other by stretching their hands over each others shoulders while the leader-usually a man called the Miri – dances and sings in the centre-holding aloft and shaking a sword like musical instrument called ‘Yoksha’.
First he sings a line and then it is repeated in chorus by the maidens rhythmically in circle at a low pace. On all important occasions ponung is arranged.

The Wancho Dance

The Wancho tribes perform dances during appropriate occasions like festivals, ceremonies etc.
Ozele festival of Wanchos is celebrated in February-March after the sowing of millet.
It lasts for four days and was observed in Longkhau village.
The dance is performed from about 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. inside the chief’s house.
Among the male-folk, boys, youths and adults take part while among women, only girls and those young married women who have not joined the husband’s family, take part in the dance.
The dancers, dressed in their fineries, stand in a circle surrounding a bonfire.
The girls stand on one side of the circle holding each other’s hands.
The male dancers hold a sword in the right hand and most of them place the left hand over the shoulder of the dancer to the left.
The male dancers start singing when all take a short step with the right foot to the right, flex the knees with an accompanying forward swing of the sword and gently bring the left foot up to the heel of the right one.
They repeat this sequence of movements.
When the singing of the male-dancers, end, which is generally on the eighth or ninth step, all stamp their right foot twice on the ground.
The female dancers take up the singing in reply.
They stamp the right foot twice on the ground during their turn of singing, once generally in the fourth step and the next at the end of the singing which generally falls on the ninth step.
Again the male dancers take up the singing and thus the dance continues.