Chhattisgarh
Folk Music, Dance, Theatre and Crafts
Folk Dances of Chhattisgarh
Panthi, Raut Nacha, Sua, Karma, Saila, Gendi, Gaur Maria and other dances of Chhattisgarh: who performs them, when, with what, plus Raigarh Kathak.
Prerequisites
- Folk Songs and Musical Instruments: almost every dance is danced to a song you meet there, and to the Mandar
- Tribes of Chhattisgarh: Muria, Maria, Dhurwa, Bhatra, Oraon and Baiga own most of the tribal dances
- Festivals and Traditions: Hareli, Diwali, Guru Ghasidas Jayanti and Bastar Dussehra set the dance calendar
The Hook: Two Dances, Two Stages
Connect
At every Rajyotsava (1 November) in Raipur, two dances almost always appear on the main stage. In one, men in white with bare upper bodies spin faster and faster to the Mandar and then climb into a human pyramid: that is Panthi. In the other, men in bright costumes carrying sticks and shields leap and shout rhyming couplets: that is Raut Nacha. In Bastar, a Muria boy walks on bamboo stilts at Hareli, and a line of Maria men wearing bison horns circles the drums.
Which community dances which dance, on what occasion, and with what props? That is exactly what Prelims asks.
Why it matters: “Dance – community – occasion” matching is one of the most predictable question types in the Chhattisgarh part of Prelims P-I. Mains GS-IV uses dances to discuss tribal culture, religion and identity.
The Plains Dances
| Dance | Community | Occasion | Distinctive features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panthi (पंथी) | Satnami community | Especially Guru Ghasidas Jayanti (18 December) and Satnami gatherings | Performed around a Jaitkhamb (जैतखाम), the white pillar of the Satnam faith. Songs praise Guru Ghasidas. Starts slow and builds to a very fast tempo; dancers form human pyramids and do acrobatics. Instruments: Mandar and Jhanjh. Made world-famous by Devdas Banjare |
| Raut Nacha (राउत नाचा) | Raut (Yadav / Ahir) cowherd community | After Diwali, around Dev Uthani Ekadashi (Kartik) | Men in colourful costumes with sticks and shields (lathi), mock combat, and loud recitation of dohe (दोहे), rhyming couplets including those of Kabir, Tulsidas and Surdas. Linked by tradition to Krishna’s victory over Kansa. A large annual Raut Nacha Mahotsav is held in Bilaspur |
| Sua Nacha (सुआ नाच) | Women | Around Diwali | Dance in a circle around a basket with a parrot figure, clapping; leads into the Gaura-Gauri puja |
| Karma (करमा) | Gond, Baiga, Oraon, Binjhwar, Kanwar and rural castes | Karma puja (worship of a branch of the Karam tree) and through the agricultural season | Men and women in lines, arms linked, stepping forward and back to the Mandar and Timki. Has many regional forms (named for step patterns and regions) |
| Saila (सैला) | Young men | After the harvest, in Agahan (roughly November–December) | Stick dance (also called Danda dance): dancers strike short sticks in rhythm while moving in circles. Common in Surguja and the plains |
| Phag dancing | Mixed groups | Holi | Dancing to the Nagada with Phag songs |
Panthi in one line
Panthi = Satnami + Guru Ghasidas + Jaitkhamb + Mandar + human pyramid. Its two great names are Devdas Banjare, who took it abroad, and Dr. Radheshyam Barle, who received the Padma Shri in 2021 for Panthi.
The Dances of Bastar and the Tribal North
| Dance | Tribe / region | Distinctive features |
|---|---|---|
| Gaur Maria / Bison-horn dance (गौर माड़िया) | Bison-horn (Dandami) Maria of south Bastar (Dantewada–Bijapur belt) | Men wear a head-dress of bison (gaur) horns with cowries and plumes and beat drums slung from the neck; women dance with an iron staff fitted with bells. The dance mimics the movements of the gaur (Indian bison). It is the most photographed tribal dance of the state |
| Gendi (गेंडी) | Muria boys of Bastar; also played all over the plains at Hareli | Dancing on bamboo stilts (gedi); a test of balance and skill. Linked to the Ghotul youth dormitory |
| Hulki (हुलकी) | Muria, Bastar | Ghotul dance of young men and women with songs (Hulki pata) |
| Kaksad (ककसाड़) | Muria and Abujh Maria | Danced at the festivals of the clan deities after the harvest; young men and women dance together |
| Parab (परब) | Dhurwa tribe, Bastar | A martial, formation-style dance |
| Sarhul (सरहुल) | Oraon, Jashpur and Surguja | Danced at the Sarhul festival, when the Sal tree blossoms in spring (Chaitra) |
| Shikar / hunting dances | Many forest tribes | Enact the hunt; overlap with the Muria Maopata drama (see Folk Theatre) |
The Ghotul connection
The Ghotul (घोटुल) is the youth dormitory of the Muria of north Bastar (Narayanpur–Kondagaon area). Young people learn songs, dances (Hulki, Gendi), crafts and social rules there. Many Bastar dances are therefore learning institutions as much as entertainment. Read more in Tribes of Chhattisgarh.
A Classical Footnote: The Raigarh Gharana of Kathak
Not a folk dance, but always asked alongside them.
- Raja Chakradhar Singh (राजा चक्रधर सिंह), ruler of the princely state of Raigarh in the first half of the 20th century, was a great patron, composer and scholar of music and dance. His court gave rise to the Raigarh Gharana (रायगढ़ घराना) of Kathak.
- The annual Chakradhar Samaroh (चक्रधर समारोह) at Raigarh, held around Ganesh Chaturthi, celebrates classical music and dance in his memory.
- The state’s Chakradhar Samman for the arts is named after him.
- Teaching institution: Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, Khairagarh (founded 1956), a university devoted to music and the fine arts.
Analysis: Dance as Identity (Mains GS-IV)
- Religion and reform. Panthi carries the message of Guru Ghasidas (satnam, equality, rejection of idol worship and caste discrimination). The dance is a public assertion of Satnami identity and dignity.
- Occupation. Raut Nacha is the pride of the cowherd community, staged when cattle and crops are safe after the monsoon.
- Ecology. Karma (Karam tree), Sarhul (Sal blossom) and the Gaur Maria (bison) show that tribal dance is rooted in forests and animals. The loss of forests is also a loss of dance.
- Socialisation. Ghotul dances teach cooperation, sexuality norms and community duties to the young.
- Gender. Sua is a women’s space; Saila and Raut Nacha are male displays of strength; Karma is danced by both.
- Commercialisation risk. Stage versions shorten the dance and cut it off from ritual. The bison-horn head-dress is now made for tourists. Documentation, Ghotul revival and community-led festivals (Bastar Dussehra, Raut Nacha Mahotsav) are the healthier path.
Memory Tricks
Who owns the dance? 'Satnami Panthi, Raut Raut, Muria on stilts, Maria in horns'
- Panthi → Satnami
- Raut Nacha → Raut (Yadav)
- Gendi → Muria (stilts)
- Gaur → Maria (bison horns)
- Parab → Dhurwa
- Sarhul → Oraon
The Diwali triangle
Three things happen around Diwali: Sua (women), Gaura (worship) and Raut Nacha (men, after Diwali at Dev Uthani). Remember “S-G-R: Sua, Gaura, Raut.”
Don’t Confuse
| This | vs | That |
|---|---|---|
| Panthi: Satnami, Guru Ghasidas, Jaitkhamb | Raut Nacha: Yadav cowherds, sticks, dohe | |
| Raut Nacha: dance | Nacha: folk theatre (Dau Mandraji) | |
| Gaur Maria: bison-horn head-dress, south Bastar | Gendi: bamboo stilts, Muria, Hareli | |
| Saila: stick dance of men after harvest | Karma: line dance around Karam tree worship | |
| Raigarh Gharana: classical Kathak | Folk dances: community, ritual, no formal gharana |
Common Mistakes
Trap 1: Raut Nacha is not Nacha
Raut Nacha is a dance of the Yadav community. Nacha is the folk theatre of the plains (Gammat, Joker, social satire). An MCQ that says “Dau Mandraji is the father of Raut Nacha” is wrong.
Trap 2: Panthi's date
Panthi is linked to Guru Ghasidas Jayanti, 18 December, not to Diwali or Holi.
Trap 3: tribe swaps in Bastar
Options often swap Muria and Maria. Muria = Ghotul, Gendi, Hulki (north Bastar). Bison-horn Maria = Gaur dance (south Bastar).
Practice
These are original practice questions written in CGPSC style. They are not previous-year questions.
Level 1: Foundation
- Panthi dancers perform around the white pillar called the ________.
- Raut Nacha is performed after Diwali, around ________ Ekadashi.
- The Raigarh Gharana of Kathak grew under the patronage of Raja ________.
Answers
- Jaitkhamb
- Dev Uthani
- Chakradhar Singh
Level 2: Prelims MCQs
Q1. Match List-I (Dance) with List-II (Community):
| List-I | List-II |
|---|---|
| A. Panthi | 1. Dhurwa |
| B. Gaur dance | 2. Satnami |
| C. Parab | 3. Raut (Yadav) |
| D. Raut Nacha | 4. Bison-horn Maria |
(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3 (b) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3 (c) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2 (d) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
Answer and explanation
(a) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3. Panthi is the Satnami dance in praise of Guru Ghasidas; the Gaur dance belongs to the Bison-horn Maria; Parab is the Dhurwa dance; Raut Nacha belongs to the Yadav cowherds.
Q2. Consider the following statements:
- Gendi dance is performed on bamboo stilts and is associated with the Muria.
- Raut Nacha performers recite rhyming couplets (dohe) during the dance.
- Saila is a women’s dance performed with a parrot figure.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer and explanation
(b) 1 and 2 only. Statement 3 describes Sua, not Saila. Saila is a stick dance of young men after the harvest. Gendi (stilts, Muria) and Raut Nacha (dohe) are correctly described.
Q3. The Chakradhar Samaroh, an annual festival of classical music and dance, is held at:
(a) Rajnandgaon (b) Raigarh (c) Khairagarh (d) Bilaspur
Answer and explanation
(b) Raigarh. It honours Raja Chakradhar Singh of Raigarh, patron of the Raigarh Gharana of Kathak, and is held around Ganesh Chaturthi. Khairagarh is the seat of the Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya, a common distractor.
Q4. Which dance is performed when the Sal tree blossoms and is associated with the Oraon?
(a) Karma (b) Sarhul (c) Kaksad (d) Hulki
Answer and explanation
(b) Sarhul. Sarhul is the Oraon spring festival of the Sal blossom, celebrated in Jashpur and Surguja. Kaksad and Hulki belong to the Muria and Maria of Bastar; Karma is linked to the Karam tree.
Q5. With reference to Panthi dance, which of the following is NOT correct?
(a) It is associated with the Satnami community. (b) Its songs praise Guru Ghasidas. (c) It is performed mainly during the Bastar Dussehra. (d) Dancers often form human pyramids.
Answer and explanation
(c). Panthi is linked to Guru Ghasidas Jayanti (18 December) and Satnami gatherings, not to Bastar Dussehra. The other three statements are correct.
Level 3: Mains Answer Writing
Q1. “Panthi is not just a dance; it is a social statement.” Discuss. (150 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Panthi is the dance of the Satnami community, performed around the Jaitkhamb in praise of Guru Ghasidas.
Body:
- Message: its songs carry Guru Ghasidas’s teaching of satnam, equality and rejection of caste discrimination and idol worship.
- Identity: for a community long treated as lower caste, a public, energetic performance is an assertion of dignity.
- Collective discipline: the accelerating rhythm and human pyramids need trust and cooperation.
- National and global stage: Devdas Banjare took it abroad; Dr. Radheshyam Barle received the Padma Shri (2021).
- Today: a symbol of Chhattisgarh at Rajyotsava and national events.
Conclusion: Panthi shows how a folk form can carry a reform movement’s ethics into everyday culture.
Q2. How do the tribal dances of Bastar reflect the relationship between tribal communities and nature? Suggest measures to protect them. (200 words)
Model answer outline
Intro: Bastar’s dances are rooted in forests, animals and the agricultural cycle.
Body (nature):
- Gaur Maria: the bison-horn head-dress and steps imitate the gaur.
- Karma and Sarhul: worship of the Karam tree and the Sal blossom.
- Kaksad, post-harvest dances: thanksgiving to clan deities for the crop.
- Gendi and hunting dances: bamboo and forest life in play and ritual.
Body (protection):
- Strengthen the Ghotul as a cultural institution, with community consent.
- Document dances (audio-video archives, the state’s culture department, IGNCA, university research).
- Community-led festivals instead of short stage versions only.
- Forest rights (FRA 2006) and conservation: no forest, no forest dance.
- Support craftsmen who make head-dresses, drums and stilts.
Conclusion: Protecting Bastar’s dances means protecting the ecology and institutions that give them meaning.
Quick Revision Table
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Panthi | Satnami; Guru Ghasidas; Jaitkhamb; human pyramids; Devdas Banjare; Radheshyam Barle (Padma Shri 2021) |
| Raut Nacha | Raut/Yadav; after Diwali, Dev Uthani Ekadashi; sticks, shields, dohe; Mahotsav at Bilaspur |
| Sua | Women; Diwali; parrot; claps |
| Karma | Karam tree; Mandar and Timki; many tribes |
| Saila | Men’s stick dance after harvest (Agahan) |
| Gendi | Bamboo stilts; Muria; Hareli |
| Gaur Maria | Bison-horn Maria, south Bastar; bison-horn head-dress |
| Hulki, Kaksad | Muria / Abujh Maria, Bastar |
| Parab | Dhurwa, Bastar |
| Sarhul | Oraon; Sal blossom; Jashpur, Surguja |
| Raigarh Gharana | Kathak; Raja Chakradhar Singh; Chakradhar Samaroh at Raigarh |
Key Takeaways
Key Takeaways
- Panthi = Satnami dance for Guru Ghasidas around the Jaitkhamb; acrobatic and fast.
- Raut Nacha = Yadav cowherds after Diwali, with sticks, shields and dohe; festival at Bilaspur.
- Sua (women, parrot) and Karma (Karam tree, Mandar) are the most widespread community dances.
- Bastar: Gaur dance (Bison-horn Maria), Gendi and Hulki (Muria), Parab (Dhurwa); north: Sarhul (Oraon).
- Raigarh Gharana of Kathak and the Chakradhar Samaroh are the state’s classical-dance identity.
What’s Next
- Folk Theatre: Nacha and Pandavani: from dance to drama
- Crafts: Dhokra, Bell Metal and Others: the head-dresses, idols and objects behind the performances
- Tourism and Heritage: where these dances are staged for visitors
- Social Aspects of Chhattisgarh: the Mains GS-IV view of community and culture
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