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Bihu dance: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox dance | {{Infobox dance | ||
|title | | title = Bihu dance | ||
|image | | image = Bihu dance.jpg | ||
| | | image_size = 250px | ||
|alt | | alt = | ||
|caption | | caption = Youths perform Bihu dance in Assam | ||
|genre | | genre = [[Folk dance]] | ||
|signature | | signature = | ||
| origin = Assam, India | |||
|origin=Assam, India | |||
}} | }} | ||
The '''Bihu dance''' is an indigenous [[folk dance]] from the [[India]]n state of [[Assam]] related to the [[Bihu]] festival and an important part of [[Assamese Culture|Assamese culture]]. Performed in a group, the Bihu dancers are usually young men and women, and the dancing style is characterized by brisk steps, and rapid hand movements. The traditional costume of dancers is colorful and | The '''Bihu dance''' is an indigenous [[folk dance]] from the [[India]]n state of [[Assam]] related to the [[Bihu]] festival and an important part of [[Assamese Culture|Assamese culture]]. Performed in a group, the Bihu dancers are usually young men and women, and the dancing style is characterized by brisk steps, and rapid hand movements. The traditional costume of dancers is colorful and centered round the red color theme, signifying joy and vigour. | ||
== History== | == History== | ||
The origins of the dance form is unknown, however the folk dance tradition has always been very significant in the culture of Assam's diverse ethnic groups, such as Kaivarttas, [[Deori people|Deoris]], [[Sonowal Kacharis]], [[ | The origins of the dance form is unknown, however the folk dance tradition has always been very significant in the culture of Assam's diverse ethnic groups, such as Kaivarttas, [[Deori people|Deoris]], [[Sonowal Kacharis]], [[Chutia people|Chutias]], [[Boro people|Boros]], [[Mising people|Misings]], [[Rabha tribe|Rabhas]], Moran and Borahis, among others.<ref>"[T]he tradition of Bihu is not solely restricted to the Assamese community, but is prevalent among various tribes living in Assam. The Mising community in Assam celebrates a festival called ''Ali-ai-lrigang'', a parallel form of the Bohag Bihu." {{harvcol|Barua|2009|p=214}}</ref> According to scholars, the Bihu dance has its origin in ancient fertility cults that was associated with increasing the fertility of the demographic as well as the land.<ref>" The Bihu dances and other ritualised activities are regarded as important by the people in order to increase the fertility of the land." {{harvcol|Barua|2009|pp=218–219}}</ref> Traditionally, local farming communities performed the dance outdoors, in fields, groves, forests or on the banks of rivers, especially under the fig tree.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZbqrDwAAQBAJ&dq=Bihu+dance&pg=PT269|title=Theatre & Performance in Small Nations|last=Sharma|first=Aparna|publisher=Intellect Books|year=2013|isbn=9781841507859|editor-last=Blandford|editor-first=Steve|location=Briston, England and Chicago, IL|pages=185–197|language=en|chapter=From Springtime Erotics to Micro-nationalism: Altering Landscapes and Sentiments of the Assamese Bihu Dance in North-East India}}</ref><ref>"In earlier times the Bihu dance, a major symbol of Assamese identity, was performed under fig trees (Ficus) [4] and occasionally under other trees, notably the mango (Mangifera indica) and jãmu (Eugenia jambolana). The seed of the fig fruit is very small, but in that seed lies the enormous tree of the future. mall, but in that seed lies the enormous tree of the future. Hence, the choice of site for the Bihu dance was linked to the fertility rites associated with it." {{harvcol|Barua|2009|p=220}}</ref> | ||
The earliest depiction of Bihu dance is found in the 9th century sculptures found in the [[Tezpur]] and [[Darrang district|Darrang]] districts of Assam. Bihu is mentioned in the inscriptions of the 14th century [[Chutiya kingdom|Chutia]] King Lakshminaryan as well. | The earliest depiction of Bihu dance is found in the 9th century sculptures found in the [[Tezpur]] and [[Darrang district|Darrang]] districts of Assam. Bihu is mentioned in the inscriptions of the 14th century [[Chutiya kingdom|Chutia]] King Lakshminaryan as well. | ||
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== Description== | == Description== | ||
[[File:Bihu dance Assam. jpg.jpg|thumb|right|Bihu dance, Assam]] | [[File:Bihu dance Assam. jpg.jpg|thumb|right|Bihu dance, Assam]] | ||
The dance begins with the performers, young men and women, slowly walking into the performance space.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chatterjee|first=Arpita|date=2013|title=The Therapeutic Value of Indian Classical, Folk and Innovative Dance Forms|url=http://rupkatha.com/V5/n1/07a_Indian_Classical_Folk_Dance.pdf|journal=Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities|volume=V|issue=1|pages=80}}</ref> The men then start playing musical instruments, like drums (particularly the double-headed [[dhol]]), horn-pipes and flutes, while the women place their hands above their hips with their palms facing outwards, forming an inverted triangular shape.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oP4vH-4oSEcC | The dance begins with the performers, young men and women, slowly walking into the performance space.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Chatterjee|first=Arpita|date=2013|title=The Therapeutic Value of Indian Classical, Folk and Innovative Dance Forms|url=http://rupkatha.com/V5/n1/07a_Indian_Classical_Folk_Dance.pdf|journal=Rupkatha Journal on Interdisciplinary Studies in Humanities|volume=V|issue=1|pages=80}}</ref> The men then start playing musical instruments, like drums (particularly the double-headed [[dhol]]), horn-pipes and flutes, while the women place their hands above their hips with their palms facing outwards, forming an inverted triangular shape.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oP4vH-4oSEcC&dq=Bihu+assam&pg=PA93|title=The Music and Musical Instruments of North Eastern India|last=Barthakur|first=Dilip Ranjan|publisher=Mittal Publications|year=2003|isbn=9788170998815|location=New Delhi|pages=93|language=en}}</ref> The women then start to slowly move in tune with the music by swaying, while bending slightly forward from the waist. Gradually, they open up the shoulders and place their legs slightly apart, adopting the main posture used in the Bihu dance. Meanwhile, the music played by the men picks up in temp and intensity, leading women to thrust forward their breasts and pelvis, alternatively, to the tune.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EyB50hsOKeEC&dq=Bihu+dance&pg=PT36|title=Indian States At A Glance 2008-09: Performance, Facts And Figures - Assam|last1=Bhandari|first1=Laveesh|last2=Kale|first2=Sumita|publisher=Pearson Education India|year=2009|isbn=9788131723326|location=Delhi, Chennai, Chandigarh|pages=27|language=en}}</ref> | ||
Some variations include men and women forming lines that face one other by holding each other's neck or waist, with more advanced sequences of the dance including men and women pairing up at the center of the performance area and dancing in a manner that imitates copulation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FT6uDwAAQBAJ | Some variations include men and women forming lines that face one other by holding each other's neck or waist, with more advanced sequences of the dance including men and women pairing up at the center of the performance area and dancing in a manner that imitates copulation.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FT6uDwAAQBAJ&dq=Bihu+dance&pg=PA55|title=Sociology of Dance: a Case Study of Kathak Dance in Pune City|last=Desai|first=Chetana|publisher=Laxmi Book Publication|year=2019|isbn=9780359859672|location=Solapur, India|pages=55|language=en}}</ref> | ||
== Cultural and social importance == | == Cultural and social importance == | ||
The Bihu dance takes its name from the [[Bohag Bihu]] festival (also called ''Rangali Bihu''), the national festival of Assam., which celebrates the Assamese New Year. The festival takes place during mid-April and the Bihu dance is meant to celebrate and emulate the seasonal spirit, celebrating fertility and passion.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKXbxn09TGwC | The Bihu dance takes its name from the [[Bohag Bihu]] festival (also called ''Rangali Bihu''), the national festival of Assam., which celebrates the Assamese New Year. The festival takes place during mid-April and the Bihu dance is meant to celebrate and emulate the seasonal spirit, celebrating fertility and passion.<ref>{{Cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XKXbxn09TGwC&dq=Bihu+assam&pg=PA16|title=Socio-economic Profile of Rural India|last1=Sinha|first1=Ajay Kumar|last2=Chakraborty|first2=Gorky|last3=Bhattacharya|first3=Chandana|last4=Datta|first4=P. S.|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|year=2004|isbn=9788180691454|editor-last=Agnihotri|editor-first=V. K.|volume=II: North-East India (Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland)|location=New Delhi|pages=16|language=en|chapter=Assam|editor-last2=Ashokvardhan|editor-first2=Chandragupta}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Begum|first1=Samim Sofika|last2=Gogoi|first2=Rajib|date=July 2007|title=Herbal recipe prepared during Bohag or Rongali Bihu in Assam|url=http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/968|journal=Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge |volume=6 |issue=3 |pages=417–422|language=en-US|issn=0972-5938}}</ref> | ||
Bihu is performed by groups of young men and women and in earlier times it served principally as a courtship dance. The Bihu dance's association with fertility refers to both human fertility, through the erotic nature of the dance, as well as to the fertility of nature, meaning the celebration of spring and the welcoming of the life-giving spring rain. The use of instruments such as drums and horn-pipes is believed to replicate the sound of rain and thunder, as a way of invoking actual precipitation.<ref name=":0" /> | Bihu is performed by groups of young men and women and in earlier times it served principally as a courtship dance. The Bihu dance's association with fertility refers to both human fertility, through the erotic nature of the dance, as well as to the fertility of nature, meaning the celebration of spring and the welcoming of the life-giving spring rain. The use of instruments such as drums and horn-pipes is believed to replicate the sound of rain and thunder, as a way of invoking actual precipitation.<ref name=":0" /> | ||
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*[[Culture of Assam]] | *[[Culture of Assam]] | ||
*[[Bihu|Bihu festivals]] | *[[Bihu|Bihu festivals]] | ||
==References== | |||
{{reflist}} | |||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
{{Commons category|Bihu dance}} | {{Commons category|Bihu dance}} | ||
* A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbupI6r5SxQ sample] of a Bihu dance performance, from | * A [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbupI6r5SxQ sample] of a Bihu dance performance, from youtube. | ||
* Other [https://web.archive.org/web/20150518232330/http://www.indianfolkarts.in/ Indian Folk Dances] of Various parts of India. | * Other [https://web.archive.org/web/20150518232330/http://www.indianfolkarts.in/ Indian Folk Dances] of Various parts of India. | ||
*[http://www.assamclicks.com/rati-bihu-spring-festival-of-the-morans/ Rati Bihu] : A kind of bihu dance celebrated by People in Assam. | *[http://www.assamclicks.com/rati-bihu-spring-festival-of-the-morans/ Rati Bihu] : A kind of bihu dance celebrated by People in Assam. | ||
==Bibliography== | ==Bibliography== | ||