Folk dances are sometimes limited to a specific region and the community living there. One such dance is the Gaur Maria dance of the people of the Bison-Horn Maria community of Chhattisgarh.
Gaur Maria dance is from the plateau of Bastar in Chhattisgarh. It is performed on auspicious occasions like births and weddings. This dance is also performed in the regions of Madhya Pradesh that are close to the border of Chhattisgarh. The dance is performed by both the males and females of the community.
Gaur Maria Dance Performance
This dance is carried out like a procession. Gaur Maria performers dance with great enthusiasm to show the joy of the special occasion. The men of the community play the music for the dance with the drums and taal. They wave their head-gear around like a bison to set the tempo of the dance.
The women dance around the men carrying long spear-like sticks that they keep thumping on the grounds. In this folk dance, the stories about hunting are depicted. The songs sing the praise of hunting to raise the spirit of hunting in the tribe.
Dance Costume
The attires of the Gaur Maria dance performers are very elaborate. The men of the tribe wear head-gears that have horns attached to them. The headgears are decorated with peacock feathers and cowries (beads). Women adorn themselves with brass ornaments like necklaces, armbands, and bead necklaces.
Music and Instruments
The instruments used in this dance are Mandar, Dhol, and Taal.
Dances, plays, and songs are the means for any community to voice their stories and legends of their cultures. They are also a tool to voice the opinions of the people. Gaur Maria dance is one such beautiful form of expression for the people of Chhattisgarh.
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