The newly formed state of Jharkhand offers a wide variety of folk dances that are very graceful, rhythmic and attractive, and are heavily accompanied by the drum beats and the songs or music. Over thirty indigenous communities exist harmoniously in this state and each of these aboriginal communities has their respective dance forms. These communities are rich in Culture and traditions, which is evident from the various dance forms that exist.The beautiful dance forms of Jharkhand are : Paika: This dance form is performed by the Munda community and presents a stylized representation of the rituals connected with the preparations of war. Dancers hold bows, arrows, spears, swords and shields and by making use of the shield and sword, martial character of the dance is retained. Previously the dance was performed to welcome guests, but nowadays it is also performed on different happy occasions like weddings and the festival of Dussehra remains incomplete without this dance. The musical accompaniments of this dance are the Dhol, Nagara, Shehnai and Ranbheri. The Paika Dance of the Mundas symbolizes the great war of their community against the British. Besides their protective chest blades, the dancers also wear colorful headgear and bells around their ankles. This captivating dance form, which is indigenous to the Mundas, is a martial art with variations throughout Jharkhand. Hunta Dance: A dance form of the Santhals, a tribe residing in the hilly plateaus of the Chota Nagpur region of the Santhal Parganas of Jharkhand, Hunta Dance is a popular dance form of the state. It is a powerful dance requires a lot of strength and vigor and is performed only by men and depicts the act of preparing for the hunt with bows and arrows, stalking the animal and finally killing it. Mime, slow strong stepping and measured movements are the distinctive features of this ancient tribal dance. Chhou Dance: It is one of the most popular folk dances of Jharkhand, which is performed in the tribal areas of Jharkhand as well as some parts of Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The Chhou dance is performed in an open space or a ground field, usually at night time. The dancers have a bath and perform some religious rituals before their performance, which is done for maintaining the sacredness of the dance, because the characters in the dance represents different Gods. The dancers make use of colorful, large and decorative masks and this dance form is basically a form of dance-drama. Performances are based on the stories of Ramayana and the Mahabharata and the dance is accompanied by the traditional nagada i.e. the drums, and the flute, which provide the background music. Jenana Jhumur: The Santhal and Nagpuri communities mainly perform the Jhumur songs and dances of Jharkhand. The Jenana Jhumur Dance is a traditional dance of the women of the Jharkhand region performed mainly during the period of cultivation in the rainy season. This is the time of the year when every member of the tribal community is hopeful of a good harvest. It is in this hour of joy and expectations that villagers of the Nagpuri community remember the dark days that they have just over come. Actually, there is no fixed season for this beautiful dance form; it is performed throughout the year, to mark all happy occasions and festivities. Jitia Karam: Karam is the name given to Kadamb tree by the Oraons Tribe, which is consider as extremely sacred by them and they worship it as a deity. The Oraons used the Kadamb flowers and twigs for decorations. The ceremony starts with the planting of the trees. High pitched sounds and the rhythms of the dance touch the hearts of the people of Jharkhand. Through those songs and dances they celebrate their deep and lifelong attachment to the forests which itself appears to them as a deity.
