Jhumar is a popular folk dance form popular in the Chota Nagpur region of Jharkhand. It is a female-centric dance and is famous by the name of Janani Jhumar, where Janani means feminine. The dance also involves male participation. Jhumar is divided into multiple sub-categories, and the performance differs from one area to another.
This dance of the women folk takes place in August and September, just after the monsoon season. It is an integral part of the Karma festival that marks the celebration of the harvest season in Jharkhand.
Janani Jhumar Dance Performance
The Janani Jhumar dance is performed by a group of 10 to 20 women. It involves a good amount of coordination among the dancers. The women hold the adjacent dancers from behind the waist and form a line structure. At the edges of the line, the two ladies hold a bundle of leaves in their free hands. There is a leader who picks up a song, and the rest of the group repeats it after her. Then the dance begins.
The women swing their feet back and forth in unison, syncing with the beats of the music and song. Slowly the speed is increased, and by the end, the dance becomes a highly energetic one. The leading female dancer changes the steps in between, and the remaining emulate.
While women are the primary performers of the Janani Jhumar, men also take part. The men mainly engage in playing musical instruments and occasionally take part in the dance.
Costume Used in Janani Jhumar Dance
The attire is traditional and elegant. The dancers are dressed in plain white saree with a bright red border. The pallu of the saree is neatly tucked into the waist. Matching red or maroon blouses are used. All of them wear necklaces made with shells or beads.
The ears are adorned with white coloured earrings made of paper or shells. The hair is tied into a bun and decorated with a ruffled white paper band. They also wear silver anklets that chime as their feet move. All of them wear light makeup to enhance the look.
Instruments Used
Music and song are important for performing the Janani Jhumar dance. The musical rendition is created using instruments like flute, Dholak, Kartal, Sarangi, and Mandar. The songs are sung by the dancing women or some singers by the side.
Pingback: All Folk Dances of India - Auchitya