You must know that the culture in Bengal is renowned all over the world. You’ll get various types of varieties and richness in the culture of West Bengal. The folk dance of West Bengal has also gained the attention of people. The folk dance of West Bengal is famous for its rich taste. you’ll feel great to know that each state of West Bengal is famous for its dance and culture. Even foreigners like to be a part of these types of dances. They are available to dance and relish the moments.
The classical dance of Bengal is renowned and famous everywhere. It also crossed the boundaries of Bengal and reached the other parts of India and abroad. Most of the renowned dancers are from Bengal. The classical dance of Bengal is to cherish and viewed. If you’re a part of Indian culture, you want to try this dance. The people of Bengal have a special preference and inclination for the classical dance of Bengal.
It’ll be a great experience to cherish and know about this special dance of Bengal. It’s a wonderful performance done by the people. Thus, often assumed from the whole discussion that Bengal is rich in culture that includes dance, music, and other things. Not only today but Bengal is usually famous for its culture.
Till now the people of Bengal try to uplift the culture of this place. Time has changed and now new styles introduced. These new styles are better and great in many aspects. People love this culture not only in India but in many other countries on the planet. It’s hoped that new styles are also introduced, and they are best in many ways.
Traditional Dances of West Bengal:
1. Brita Dance
The Brita dance of West Bengal is famous and well-known all over the world. Brita dance is additionally known as Vrita Dance. It’s a simple dance and anyone can do it. This dance is especially performed by people after their recovery from certain diseases.
2. Gambhira Dance
Another important and famous dance of West Bengal is the Gambhira dance. It’s considered to be one of the devotional dances of West Bengal. It’s performed by the worshippers of Lord Shiva. It’s done with some musical instruments. It’s done with the help of harmonium, flute, and drum. The full dance is performed with great sincerity and honesty.
3. Chau Dance
You want to be well-aware of the Chau dance. The dance of Chau is legendary in the Mayurbhanj district. It’s performed at the sun festival. It’s mainly performed during the Chaitra months. It also shows the stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. This dance attracts the eye of the tourists. The favored themes of this dance are Rudra and Vira.
4. Tusu Dance
The Tusu dance has its own beauty. This dance has its own beauty and culture. It’s also performed during the month of Pausa. It’s found in the month of December and January. The tusu dance of the Birbhum district is extremely famous.
5. Lathi Dance
Lathi dance is performed to precise something. It was performed during the time of Muharram. This dance is performed during the primary ten days of Muharram. It’s the dance to show off the powers of the body. A bamboo stick is taken and is employed in several ways. It’s performed with various sounds.
6. Baul Dance
It’s another famous dance of West Bengal. It always features a special position in the traditional culture of West Bengal. They perform uniquely. They also maintain perfect styles and posture. The dancers are well-trained and have a passion for the dance. it’ll be highly exciting to be a part of this dance.
7. Rabindra sangeet Dance
It’ll be great to know that Rabindra sangeet dance is one of the traditional dances of West Bengal. Most of the children including girls perform this dance. It’ll be nice to know that this dance is performed even in many foreign countries. People come here to West Bengal to cherish the place of Rabindranath Tagore and enjoy the dance.
Folk Musical Instruments of West Bengal
Folk musical instruments are mostly hand-crafted in India. West Bengal has a good number of skilled artists who craft instruments meticulously. The tradition is especially popular in districts like Nadia, Purulia and Bankura.
Considering music and dance are an integral part of the rural tradition, the crafting of the instruments plays a pertinent role. String instruments include Gopiyantra, Dotara-a basic two-stringed instrument, Sarinda- a bowed lute, Banam- a wooden instrument, percussion instruments like Dhaak and Dhol.
1. Madal
Madal or maadal may be a West Bengal folk musical instrument. The madal is employed mainly for rhythm-keeping in Bengali folk music. It’s very popular and widely used as a hand drum in West Bengal. Madal consists of a cylindrical body with a small bulge at its center and heads at both ends, one head larger than the opposite.
It’s usually played horizontally in a seated position, with both heads played simultaneously. Madal is the national instrument, of West Bengal. This typical Bengali percussive instrument is the backbone of most Bengali folk music. There’s also a madal drum among certain Adivasi groups.
2. Dhamsa
Dhumsa may be a percussion instrument made of wood, metal, iron, and leather. This folk instrument found in West Bengal and Orissa. Majorly used for rhythmic accompaniment in ‘Seraikella Chau’ dance of Orissa and ‘Purulia Chau’ dance of West Bengal.
3. Dhol
Dhol can ask any one of several similar types of double-headed drums widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. Its range of distribution in India, Bangladesh and Pakistan primarily include northern areas like the Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Kashmir, Sindh, Assam Valley, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Konkan, Goa, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh. The range stretches westward as far as eastern Afghanistan. A related instrument is a dholak or dholki. Someone who plays the dhol is understood as dholi.
4. Nagada
The nagara or naghara may be a drum used in the Middle East. There are several sorts of naghara, which is the lead instrument in folk ceremonies and weddings. The naghara differs in size and goes by various names like “boyuk nagara” (big naghara), “cura nagara” (small naghara), “chilling naghara” (played with drumsticks), “Qoltuq nagara” (drum held under the arm), gosha naghara (Naqareh) and “el naghara” (hand naghara). ‘Nagada’ (Indian Drum) may be a percussion instrument used for its rhythmic sounds. [citation needed]. Nakara may be a festival instrument mostly used in South Indian Hindu temples. the dimensions may vary, and this instrument may keep near the entrance of the South Indian Hindu temples.
5. Dotara
Dotara is an instrument containing two, fair or sometimes five strings and resembles a sarod. Dotaras were also employed by the Bauls to create folk music for their balards across Bengal, Assam, and Bihar. The dotara is additionally an instrument that is played by plucking its strings and used alongside other folk instruments like dhol or Mandira in Bengali folk music groups.
6. Ektara
As its name suggests, Ektara is a musical instrument with one string. Also referred to as the “gopijanra”, it’s used by the native people of Bengal for making folk music. More specifically ektara is an important component of a very famous form of music in Bengal known as the Baul music where the Baul singers roam around with their ektaras singing popular bards from Bengal’s folk music.
7. Tabla
A tabla may be a pair of twin hand drums from the Indian subcontinent. Since the 18th century, tabla has been the principal percussive instrument in Hindustani classical music, where it’s going played solo, as an accompaniment with other instruments and vocals, and as an element of larger ensembles. Tabla is additionally frequently played in popular and folk music performances in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
8. Banam
The single string dhodro banam comes from the Santal tribal community of central India, particularly what’s the modern state of West Bengal. Alternatively, it’s sometimes known as the Santali banam. Associated with the sarinda and sarangi, the dhodro banam features a skin-covered resonator and is played with a bow.
9. Dhak
The dhak may be a huge membranophone instrument from India. The shapes differ from just about cylindrical to the barrel. The way of stretching the hide over the mouths and lacing also varies. It’s suspended from the neck, tied to the waist, and kept on the lap or the bottom, and typically played with wooden sticks. The left side is coated to offer it a heavier sound. Drumbeats are an integral part of Durga Puja. It’s mostly played by the Bengali Hindu community.
10. Khamok
This Bengali instrument is analogous to the Ektara (one-stringed instrument attached to a drum) and is used alongside other traditional instruments in creating folk music, especially the baulgaan (songs sung by the bauls).
Khamak comprises three basic parts: a base made from wood that connects via multiple strings to a different art made from wood. This instrument is additionally played by plucking the strings with one arm and adjusting the tension of the strings with the other.
11. Morsing
The morsing is one of the unique folk music instruments from Bengal which has influenced and used in multiple cultures like the folk music from Rajasthan, Carnatic music in South India and even mentioned be like the Jews Harp.
Looks wise it’s nothing like the other folk music instruments from Bengal. It comprises a metal ring within the shape of a horseshoe, two parallel frames which form the essential frame and a metal tongue in the middle of it.
12. Dramyin
Dramyin isn’t just native to Bengal but finds its deep roots in Himalayan folk music including Nepal, Tibet, and Sikkim. The dramyin may be a long-necked lute cut out of a hollowed piece of wood with seven strings attached to the base. Almost like other folk music instruments, the dramyin is additionally used by fingerpicking or plucking on the strings.
