Arunachal Pradesh is the land of nomads. Many have settled there over course of time. These tribes come from different cultures and have different beliefs. Therefore they have different festivities and dances.
One such tribe is the Sherdukpens that have settled in the West Kameng district of the state. Their unique celebrations are commemorated by their very own folk dance Bardo Chham.
Bardo Chham Performance
Bardo Chham literally translates to ‘Dance of the Zodiacs’. The people of the Sherdukpens community believe that there are twelve evils like twelve zodiacs, one for each month of the year. They appear over the course of the entire year in animal forms. Sherdukpens narrate this message through Bardo Chham dance during various regional festivities.
The Bardo Chham dance is performed both by both the men and women of the Sherdukpens community. They hold this dance very close to their heart. It is an act put up to depict the evils that mankind has to fight and defeat, symbolizing the victory of good over evil.
Dance Costume
The masks and headgears worn by the performers are very important to the story being told and also to the overall appearance of the dance. The hand and head movements, combined with the bright costumes, make it a sight to behold.
The attire of the performers in this dance is very bright and colorful. The dancers also wear masks of different animal kinds to symbolize the evil spirits. The headgear worn by the dancers is quite elaborate as there is a lot of head movement involved in the act. The beautiful costumes make this dance even more exhilarating to watch.
Instruments Used in Bardo Chham
The music for the dance is very crucial. It sets the whole ambiance of the performance and is played on large drums and cymbals.
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