P365 - DAY242: Chholiya (छोलिया)/chaliya(छलिया) Dance


It is a dance form practised in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. It is basically a sword dance accompanying a marriage procession but now it is performed on many auspicious occasions.

It is especially popular in the districts of Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar and Almora of Kumaon division and has even spread to the Garhwal division.

It has a history of more than a thousand years and is rooted in the martial traditions of the Kumauni Kshatriyas when marriages were performed at the point of the swords. It is also believed to be auspicious as it provides protection from evil spirits and demons.

The turi (तुरी), nagphani (नागफनी) and ransing (रणसिंघ) dhol (ढोल), damau (दमाऊ) and Masakbeen(मसकबीन) or Bagpipe are traditional instrument played during the dance.

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