Dance performances at weddings, fairs, and other festivals are a common thing in Jharkhand. One such popular dance form prevalent in this culturally rich land is the Ghoda Naach. The word Ghoda refers to a horse, and Naach translates to dance. Together it means the Horse Dance, quite an interesting name for a dance.
From the name, you might have guessed the involvement of horses in this particular dance. However, there is a twist to this. Let’s find out!
Ghoda Naach Performance
It is a dance performed only by men. The wooden puppet is the main prop used. It is shaped exactly like a horse with a hole in the centre. The dancers get inside this hole and support the puppet on their feet. The puppet is tied to the waist of the dancer. The puppet’s feet are fitted with wheels to ease up the movement. The dancers look like they are sitting on horseback.
The entire body of the horse puppet is covered in colourful shiny clothing that hangs from the sides to cover up the feet of the dancers. The horse is also decorated with artificial hair and a tail to give it a real look. Beads, glass sequences, flowers, and much more are also used to attract the audience.
The entire dance is performed without any song on the side. However, various instruments are used to produce beats and music. The men jump and run around on the stage, doing some dance steps. The movement resembles that of a horse. Some dancers are also seen carrying a sword or a stick in their right hands. The dance is a highly vigorous one, and therefore only men are seen doing it.
Costume Uused in Ghoda Naach
The Ghoda Naach is performed mainly during wedding celebrations or in the village carnivals. The sole purpose of this dance is to entertain the viewers, which means an attractive costume is necessary. The men dress up in bright coloured shirts and pants or dhotis. The horse structure is also decorated with matching cloth pieces.
Instruments Used
The dance is performed to the beats and tune of various instruments. The musical instruments include Shehanai, and different types of drums like the Dhak, Dholak, Nagda, etc. Narsingha and Thayr are two other musical instruments similar to a Shehanai. The drum beats and the tune of these piped instruments create music for the Ghoda Naach.