![A Santal dance troupe performing their dance : Spring watch at Baroghutu hills, Mukutmanipur, Bankura District, West Bengal, India. [EXPLORED] | by biswarupsarkar72](http://live.staticflickr.com/8729/16608300220_79c61f2936.jpg)
A Santal dance troupe performing their dance : Spring watch at Baroghutu hills, Mukutmanipur, Bankura District, West Bengal, India. [EXPLORED]
They performed three forms of Santali dance - Baha, Sohorai and Dong.
SNTALS
The Santhal (also spelled as Santal) are one of the Tribal peoples who live mainly in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. They are one of the largest tribal community and one of the most studied tribal religions in India.The insurrection of the Santhals was mainly against the British and their supporters. On 30 June 1855 the Santhal rebel leaders Sidhu Murmu and Kanu Murmu mobilized 30 thousand Santhals and declared a rebellion against the British Raj.
The Santhals are an agricultural tribe, from time immemorial they have cleared forests, toiled the land, and produced food for subsistence. Beside agriculture they also domesticate animals. Apart from these the Santhals also are well versed in the art of hunting, where their exceptional skills with bow and arrows is noticeable.
SANTALI CULTURE
The Santhali culture has attracted many scholars and anthropologists for decades. Unlike many other tribal groups of the Indian subcontinent, the Santhals have preserved their native language despite waves of migrations and invasions such as Aryan, Hun, Mughals, Europeans, and others.
Santhali culture is depicted in the paintings and artworks in the walls of their houses. The Santhals mainly prefer group performance than solo, which is an important feature of tribal art form in India. Group dancing and singing is the most important medium to express their joy and happiness. The Santhali dance and music is tuned with the nature of occasion whether it is social or ceremonial. The three most quintessential instruments in Santhali music are two kinds of drums one Tumdak and the other Tamak, and Tiriao or flute. The Tumdak is a double headed drum having the shape of a frustum, the drum skins at left and right are made of animal skins. The one at the left has bigger circumference than the right. The Tamak has a hemispherical shape, with a wider circumference and played by two drum sticks. Tiriao or basically a bansuri is a bamboo made musical instrument with five holes.
The most well known dance form of the Santhals is a group of women with interlocked hands forming a semicircle, encircling a relatively smaller group of male percussionists at the centre. The dance steps and movements are in accordance with the beats which is relatively simple. The dance forms, countenance, and beats differ from region to region. The Santhali Dance have a wide variety and types and is tuned with ceremony and social celebrations. The Dasai dance is performed only by males of the community on festive occasions. Langre, Guluri, and Humti is danced all round the year, whereas Baha and Sohorai are only for festive seasons. In social ceremonies like marriage Dong is danced. Along with these popular dances some other rare forms like Rinjha and Jhika also exist and performed only in few regions.
The Santhal songs also have a variety similar to their dance, the Santali word for song is "Sereng". Generally singing is accompanied with dancing but there are some songs which do not include dancing. There is also a kind of song sung during the sowing of paddy. The "Gam Sereng" is another type of song which is sung in hot summer evening. Courtesy : (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santhal_people)
Spring watch at Baroghutu
Spring all over the World is a season of colors, and celebration of lives. Holi, a festival of colours, is a festival of Spring celebrated by the Hindus allover India. On the eve of Holi, in the last week of February this year, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to join the celebration of lives at Baroghutu with all its elements including the tribal dance performed by the Santals.
Mukutmanipur's undulating forested landscape marked by the vibrant colors of Palash (Butea monosperma) is refreshing and invigorating for the body and mind. It is marked by the prominent hillock about 200 metres high, locally named "Baroghutu" (Baro- twelve, ghutu-/stones/hill). The tribal (mostly santals) hamlets of Baroghutu, Jambeda, Kumorbahal, Dhagora and Mukutmanipur encircle this hillock. With a landscape that seems naturally designed for adventure, Mukutmanipur offers opportunities in rock climbing, trekking and a variety of water sports.
The local tribal festivals, Tusu, Bhadu, Sahrai and Badna are symbolized by fascinating music and dance, and strengthen the Mukutmanipur experience, laden with the relaxed air of nature in the heartland. The Bankura district has a tribal population famous for its music, art and culture. Mukutmanipur is one such quaint village. The community will provide the tourist with a life that is stress free.
A Santal dance troupe performing their dance : Spring watch at Baroghutu hills, Mukutmanipur, Bankura District, West Bengal, India. [EXPLORED]
They performed three forms of Santali dance - Baha, Sohorai and Dong.
SNTALS
The Santhal (also spelled as Santal) are one of the Tribal peoples who live mainly in the states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, and Assam. They are one of the largest tribal community and one of the most studied tribal religions in India.The insurrection of the Santhals was mainly against the British and their supporters. On 30 June 1855 the Santhal rebel leaders Sidhu Murmu and Kanu Murmu mobilized 30 thousand Santhals and declared a rebellion against the British Raj.
The Santhals are an agricultural tribe, from time immemorial they have cleared forests, toiled the land, and produced food for subsistence. Beside agriculture they also domesticate animals. Apart from these the Santhals also are well versed in the art of hunting, where their exceptional skills with bow and arrows is noticeable.
SANTALI CULTURE
The Santhali culture has attracted many scholars and anthropologists for decades. Unlike many other tribal groups of the Indian subcontinent, the Santhals have preserved their native language despite waves of migrations and invasions such as Aryan, Hun, Mughals, Europeans, and others.
Santhali culture is depicted in the paintings and artworks in the walls of their houses. The Santhals mainly prefer group performance than solo, which is an important feature of tribal art form in India. Group dancing and singing is the most important medium to express their joy and happiness. The Santhali dance and music is tuned with the nature of occasion whether it is social or ceremonial. The three most quintessential instruments in Santhali music are two kinds of drums one Tumdak and the other Tamak, and Tiriao or flute. The Tumdak is a double headed drum having the shape of a frustum, the drum skins at left and right are made of animal skins. The one at the left has bigger circumference than the right. The Tamak has a hemispherical shape, with a wider circumference and played by two drum sticks. Tiriao or basically a bansuri is a bamboo made musical instrument with five holes.
The most well known dance form of the Santhals is a group of women with interlocked hands forming a semicircle, encircling a relatively smaller group of male percussionists at the centre. The dance steps and movements are in accordance with the beats which is relatively simple. The dance forms, countenance, and beats differ from region to region. The Santhali Dance have a wide variety and types and is tuned with ceremony and social celebrations. The Dasai dance is performed only by males of the community on festive occasions. Langre, Guluri, and Humti is danced all round the year, whereas Baha and Sohorai are only for festive seasons. In social ceremonies like marriage Dong is danced. Along with these popular dances some other rare forms like Rinjha and Jhika also exist and performed only in few regions.
The Santhal songs also have a variety similar to their dance, the Santali word for song is "Sereng". Generally singing is accompanied with dancing but there are some songs which do not include dancing. There is also a kind of song sung during the sowing of paddy. The "Gam Sereng" is another type of song which is sung in hot summer evening. Courtesy : (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santhal_people)
Spring watch at Baroghutu
Spring all over the World is a season of colors, and celebration of lives. Holi, a festival of colours, is a festival of Spring celebrated by the Hindus allover India. On the eve of Holi, in the last week of February this year, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to join the celebration of lives at Baroghutu with all its elements including the tribal dance performed by the Santals.
Mukutmanipur's undulating forested landscape marked by the vibrant colors of Palash (Butea monosperma) is refreshing and invigorating for the body and mind. It is marked by the prominent hillock about 200 metres high, locally named "Baroghutu" (Baro- twelve, ghutu-/stones/hill). The tribal (mostly santals) hamlets of Baroghutu, Jambeda, Kumorbahal, Dhagora and Mukutmanipur encircle this hillock. With a landscape that seems naturally designed for adventure, Mukutmanipur offers opportunities in rock climbing, trekking and a variety of water sports.
The local tribal festivals, Tusu, Bhadu, Sahrai and Badna are symbolized by fascinating music and dance, and strengthen the Mukutmanipur experience, laden with the relaxed air of nature in the heartland. The Bankura district has a tribal population famous for its music, art and culture. Mukutmanipur is one such quaint village. The community will provide the tourist with a life that is stress free.