Folk dances of India
73 dances from 32 states and union territories. Find the right one for your sangeet, festival or company event, then book a troupe that performs it.
38 of these can be booked on Mehfil today. For the rest, post a requirement and we'll find a troupe.
All dances
73 dances
Punjab
Bhangra
The harvest dance of Punjab: big jumps, shoulder shrugs and raised arms to a pounding dhol. Now the life of every sangeet and baraat.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 163 troupes to bookGujarat
Garba
Circular dance of Navratri, with clapping and turning around a central lamp or image of the goddess. Everyone can join in, so it's perfect for guests.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 202 troupes to bookMaharashtra
Koli
Dance of Mumbai's fishing community: men and women mime rowing and casting nets, dancing in pairs to songs of the sea. Great at Mumbai weddings.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 162 troupes to bookAssam
Bagurumba
The Bodo 'butterfly dance': women in bright dokhona spread their shawls like wings and move in soft, flowing patterns.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookRajasthan
Bhavai
A balancing act set to dance: performers carry stacks of up to seven or more brass pots on their heads while dancing on sword edges or glass.
Lively, troupe of 3 to 81 troupe to bookAssam
Bihu
Assam's festival dance for Rongali Bihu in spring: quick hip and hand movements, flirtatious songs, and the pepa hornpipe.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookNagaland
Chang Lo (Sua Lua)
Victory dance of the Chang Naga, once performed after battles, now at festivals, with warrior costumes and shouts.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 201 troupe to bookRajasthan
Chari
Women dance with brass pots on their heads with lit lamps inside, glowing in the dark. From the Kishangarh and Ajmer region.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 121 troupe to bookMizoram
Cheraw
The bamboo dance of Mizoram: pairs of men clap long bamboo poles together while women step nimbly in and out between them.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookJharkhand
Chhau
Masked martial dance-drama from Seraikela (Jharkhand), Purulia (West Bengal) and Mayurbhanj (Odisha). Leaps and battle scenes from the epics. UNESCO listed.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookUttarakhand
Choliya
A Kumaoni sword dance from wedding processions, with dancers in warrior dress fencing with sword and shield to drums.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 221 troupe to bookOdisha
Dalkhai
Western Odisha women's dance named after a goddess, with fast, rhythmic steps and colourful sambalpuri sarees.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 141 troupe to bookGujarat
Dandiya Raas
Pairs of dancers strike decorated sticks in rhythm as rings of people rotate past each other. Usually danced late into Navratri nights and at sangeets.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 241 troupe to bookGoa
Dekhni
A semi-classical Goan dance that blends Indian rhythms with Western melody, telling the story of a dancer and a boatman.
Gentle, troupe of 4 to 101 troupe to bookMaharashtra
Dhangari Gaja
Dance of the Dhangar shepherd community of Solapur and Satara, with colourful handkerchiefs waved overhead as drums speed up.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookMaharashtra
Dhol Tasha Pathak
Massed drum troupes of Pune that lead Ganeshotsav processions and grand entries, sometimes with dozens of players and a waving flag.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 601 troupe to bookWest Bengal
Dhunuchi Naach
Durga Puja's signature dance: dancers move with smoking clay incense burners, sometimes balancing several at once, to the dhaak.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 121 troupe to bookKarnataka
Dollu Kunitha
Karnataka's thundering drum dance: men with huge dollu drums slung over their shoulders leap and form patterns while playing.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 201 troupe to bookGoa
Fugdi
Goan women's dance done in circles or rows, building from slow singing to fast spins, around Ganesh Chaturthi and other festivals.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 141 troupe to bookRajasthan
Ghoomar
Women twirl in wide ghagras so the skirts flare into circles, faces veiled, in a dance once performed for Rajput royalty. Ideal for weddings and receptions.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 161 troupe to bookOdisha
Ghumura
From Kalahandi in western Odisha, danced with a large ghumura drum tied to the chest, in martial, festive style.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookPunjab
Giddha
Women's dance of Punjab built around boliyan, witty sung couplets, with clapping and playful mime of everyday life.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 141 troupe to bookTripura
Hojagiri
Reang women dance balancing a bottle or pitcher with a lamp on their heads while standing on earthen pots, moving only from the waist.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 121 troupe to bookPunjab
Jhumar
A graceful, circling dance from western Punjab, slower than Bhangra, performed in a ring with smooth arm movements.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 121 troupe to bookRajasthan
Kalbelia
The serpentine dance of the Kalbelia community, with fast spins and supple movements to the pungi. On UNESCO's intangible heritage list.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 101 troupe to bookTamil Nadu
Karakattam
Tamil Nadu dance honouring the rain goddess Mariamman, with dancers balancing decorated pots on their heads through acrobatic moves.
Lively, troupe of 4 to 101 troupe to bookAndhra Pradesh
Kolattam
Stick dance from Andhra and Telangana in which dancers strike short sticks in pairs while moving in circles and braided patterns.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 201 troupe to bookTamil Nadu
Kummi
One of Tamil Nadu's oldest dances, done by women in a circle, clapping in rhythm as they sing, with no instruments needed.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 201 troupe to bookMaharashtra
Lavani
Maharashtra's powerful stage dance in nine-yard sarees, with sharp footwork to the dholki and expressive storytelling. A crowd favourite at any Marathi event.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 121 troupe to bookTamil Nadu
Mayilattam
The peacock dance: dancers in peacock costumes with beaks they can open and close, performed at temple festivals.
Gentle, troupe of 2 to 81 troupe to bookHimachal Pradesh
Nati
Himachal's best-known dance: long chains of dancers holding hands and stepping in slow, then quickening, circles. Kullu Nati is the most famous form.
Lively, troupe of 10 to 301 troupe to bookKerala
Oppana
A Malabar Muslim wedding dance in which the bride's friends dance and clap around her, singing mappila songs.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 151 troupe to bookManipur
Pung Cholom
Drummers of Manipur dance while playing the pung drum, leaping and spinning in the air without missing a beat.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 101 troupe to bookJammu and Kashmir
Rouf
Women in two facing rows step forward and back in a slow, swaying rhythm, singing as they go. Danced in spring and at Eid and weddings.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 161 troupe to bookKerala
Thiruvathirakali
Kerala women in white-and-gold kasavu sarees dance in a circle around a lit lamp, singing and clapping, at Onam and Thiruvathira.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 121 troupe to bookGujarat
Tippani
From the Chorwad coast: women beat the ground with long poles called tippani in rhythm, a dance that grew out of laying house floors.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookKarnataka
Veeragase
A fierce dance from Hindu mythology, performed during Dasara and Shravana, with dancers holding swords and wearing white turbans.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 121 troupe to bookKarnataka
Yakshagana
Coastal Karnataka's all-night dance-theatre of epic stories, with towering headgear, bold makeup and a live chande drum ensemble.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 161 troupe to bookArunachal Pradesh
Aji Lamu
Monpa masked dance-drama of the goddess and her companions, performed at Losar and other festivals.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 10Request a troupeMadhya Pradesh
Badhai
A joyful dance from Bundelkhand for births and weddings, with sweeping movements and acrobatics to energetic drumming.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 14Request a troupeAndhra Pradesh
Butta Bommalu
From West Godavari: dancers wear huge painted masks and costumes, becoming life-size dolls in processions and festivals.
Lively, troupe of 4 to 10Request a troupeUttar Pradesh
Charkula
A Braj dance in which a woman balances a tall wooden tower of lit lamps on her head while dancing, traditionally after Holi.
Gentle, troupe of 3 to 10Request a troupeOdisha
Dhimsa
Tribal dance of the Eastern Ghats in Odisha and Andhra, with dancers in a chain, arms linked, stepping to the dhimsa drum.
Lively, troupe of 10 to 20Request a troupeJammu and Kashmir
Dumhal
Performed by men of the Wattal community in long colourful robes and tall conical caps, moving around a banner planted in the ground.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 15Request a troupeWest Bengal
Gambhira
Masked dance from Malda, staged around the Bengali new year, mixing devotion to Shiva with satire about current events.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeChhattisgarh
Gaur Maria
Bastar's bison-horn dance: men wear horned headdresses and mimic the gaur bison, while women dance in lines alongside.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 24Request a troupeLadakh
Jabro
A Ladakhi nomadic dance done in a line with arms linked, with light steps that suit high-altitude celebrations, especially Losar.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 14Request a troupeBihar
Jat-Jatin
A couple's dance from Mithila telling the story of a separated husband and wife, often performed on moonlit monsoon nights.
Gentle, troupe of 4 to 10Request a troupeBihar
Jhijhiya
Mithila women dance with pots of lamps on their heads during Navratri, praying to keep away evil.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeJharkhand
Jhumair
Harvest dance of Jharkhand where dancers hold hands in a line and step to the mandar, celebrating the end of the crop season.
Lively, troupe of 10 to 20Request a troupeChhattisgarh
Karma
Danced by tribal communities across Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand for the Karma festival, in linked rows that sway forward and back.
Lively, troupe of 10 to 24Request a troupeTelangana
Lambadi
Dance of the Banjara (Lambadi) community, with mirror-work costumes and heavy jewellery, miming farm work and harvest.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 14Request a troupeUttarakhand
Langvir Nritya
An acrobatic dance from Garhwal where a performer balances on a tall bamboo pole, spinning on his stomach as drummers play below.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 8Request a troupeLakshadweep
Lava
Lakshadweep's island dance from Minicoy, performed by men in colourful costumes at festivals, with drums and songs.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 16Request a troupeKerala
Margamkali
Syrian Christian dance of Kerala, performed in a circle around a lamp, telling the story of St Thomas.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 12Request a troupeMadhya Pradesh
Matki
Malwa women dance with earthen pots balanced on their heads at weddings and festivals, led by a solo dancer.
Gentle, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeAndaman and Nicobar
Nicobarese Dance
Community dance of the Nicobar islands, danced in a linked line at harvest and the Ossuary feast, with coconut-leaf costumes.
Gentle, troupe of 10 to 20Request a troupeMeghalaya
Nongkrem
Khasi thanksgiving dance at the Nongkrem festival: women in gold and silver ornaments move slowly while men dance with swords around them.
Gentle, troupe of 10 to 20Request a troupeTamil Nadu
Oyilattam
Men in a row wave handkerchiefs in time to the music, a 'dance of grace' with steps that grow more complex.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 16Request a troupeChhattisgarh
Panthi
Devotional dance of the Satnami community, with dancers forming pyramids and moving faster and faster as the songs build.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 20Request a troupeTelangana
Perini Shivatandavam
A warriors' dance from the Kakatiya era, revived in Telangana, performed by men in praise of Shiva before battle.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeHaryana
Phag
Haryana's spring dance around Holi, full of teasing songs between men and women after the harvest work is done.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 16Request a troupeArunachal Pradesh
Ponung
Adi women's harvest dance in Arunachal, circling around a male singer-priest who leads with a sword-shaped instrument.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 20Request a troupeMadhya Pradesh
Rai
Bundelkhand's night-time dance where a woman dancer twirls under lamp light to the mridang, answered by male singers and drummers.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeWest Bengal
Raibenshe
A vigorous martial dance from Birbhum, once performed by soldiers, with dancers wearing ankle bells and drums setting a fierce pace.
High energy, troupe of 8 to 14Request a troupeUttar Pradesh
Raslila
From the Braj region around Mathura and Vrindavan: dance-drama of Krishna and the gopis, especially around Janmashtami and Holi.
Gentle, troupe of 8 to 20Request a troupeChhattisgarh
Raut Nacha
The Yadav community's dance after Diwali, with sticks, mock fights and bright costumes, honouring Krishna.
High energy, troupe of 10 to 25Request a troupeHaryana
Saang
Open-air folk theatre with song and dance, telling stories from legends and village life. Performances can run for hours.
Lively, troupe of 8 to 12Request a troupeSikkim
Singhi Chham
Masked snow-lion dance of Sikkim, honouring Mount Kanchenjunga, with dancers inside a furry white lion costume.
Lively, troupe of 4 to 8Request a troupeSikkim
Tamang Selo
A Nepali-language dance of the Tamang community, quick and cheerful, to the damphu frame drum.
Lively, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeManipur
Thang-Ta
Manipur's martial art performed as a display with sword and spear, full of controlled, dramatic movement.
High energy, troupe of 4 to 10Request a troupeKerala
Theyyam
Ritual art of north Kerala in which performers in towering costumes and face paint embody deities. Booked for cultural showcases as a staged excerpt.
High energy, troupe of 6 to 12Request a troupeMeghalaya
Wangala
The Garo '100 drums' festival dance, giving thanks to the sun god after harvest, with long lines of drummers and dancers.
Lively, troupe of 12 to 30Request a troupe