Jata-Jatin Folk Dance of North Bihar

There are so many ways in which ideas and emotions can be expressed. Some choose to write, some choose to sing, and some chose to dance. One can not know why any folk dance form came into being but every one of them had an aim from the beginning. Jata-Jatin folk dance is one of them.

Some of these dance forms originated to enjoy life, some were formed to please God, and some were formed to improve society.  

Jata-Jatin teaches society of love. It pleases the god in need and it gets enjoyed by people in festivals and joyful occasions. Jata-Jatin is a popular folk dance form of North Bihar. 

Story Behind the Dance

Jata and Jatin were said to be a couple a long time ago. They were very much in love but due to some unfortunate circumstances, they had to live apart. During dance performance, it shows that a boatman kidnaps Jatin and this is the reason why they had to stay away from each other. In the end, they are seen together and living their lives happily. 

This dance in some sense encourages lovers to be hopeful of what they desire. And if they truly love each other they will be together no matter what the circumstances are. 

With time this folk dance evolved and was used to represent more things other than only love. The dance was made more realistic. It showed people suffering from poverty, illness, drought, flood, and other natural causes. In some parts of Bihar, this dance is done to please the God of rain. Women of Bihar perform this dance in open ground to please Indra so he brings the rain down.    

Performance and Performers

Jata-Jatin is a couple’s dance. It can not be done only by one person as it represents two lovers. Men and women both take part in it. But if there are no men in the performance woman dressed as man perform it. Dance steps are very simple with easy body movements. 

Women dress up in colorful clothes with light jewelry and men wear their traditional clothes. If performance is being done on a stage or on a public occasion then performers get dressed otherwise in village areas they perform in regular clothing.