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About Jhumur Dance
JhumurNach or Jhumur dance is the folk dance of Assam, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, east and north-east India, that focuses on the typical tribal tradition of the north-east Indians prevailing since thousands of years ago.
Jhumur dance is popular among the tea-tribes of Assam. The tribes are a descendant of the workers brought by the East India Company to work in the Assam tea plantations.
Thus, this dance has originated from the tea-garden workers who worked relentlessly for hours in one of the leading tea plantations of the world. Renowned for its ethnicity, it is usually performed by young girls.
Origin and history
Jhumur dance originates from the core of the cultural enthusiasm of the working class. The workers at the tea gardens of Assam find their voice of expression through this traditional folk-dance form and derive serenity, joy, and happiness from Jhumur. What started as a mild entertainment got transformed into a polished folk-dance form over time.
Sometimes, men take part in the dancing, too, however, it is much known for its women dancers. This ancient tradition resonates with the trying times of laborers and socioeconomic conditions.
Style and music
Nowadays, the dance is usually performed in open places (casual gatherings or festivities) with male singers wearing traditional dresses with a drum hung around their neck, a flute or a pair of Taal. The women stand linearly holding each other’s waists and dancing in synchronization.
Jhumur is generally performed as a part of ritual worship, lovemaking and a prayer for rainfall. It gets its name from the dangling bells worn around the ankles that make a jingling sound as the dance commences.
This enthusiastic dance form has come up with numerous variations and the most popular of them all is Bhaduria performed as a celebration for the bountiful monsoon.