Tripura has a rich cultural heritage of different tribal
communities, besides Bengali and Manipuri communities. Folk music and dances of
Tripura are based on the different dance forms of the tribal communities. Music
is mainly an accompaniment to dances and the musical instruments are made from
bamboo and metal scraps. The musical instruments include flute, sarinda, drums,
simple stringed instrument made of bamboo known as lebang and bamboo cymbals.
Songs are mostly drones or chants, the livelier ones are for livelier
occasions; they tell of the simple lives of the tribes, their hobbies,
activities and hopes.
Music and Dances of Tripuris
Tripuris, the largest of the tribal community, entertain
Garia deity for seven days with songs and dance. This is performed in April
month for a good harvest.
During the monsoon season, hordes of colorful insects called
lebang visit the hill slopes in search of seeds sown over the hills. This is an
occasion for merriment for the youth. While the young men make a particular rhythmic
sound with the help of two bamboo chips in their hands, the women folk run over
the hill slopes to catch these insects.
Music and Dances of Reangs
Hozagiri dance is the most importance dance of the Reang
tribal community. In this dance form, the movement of the hands or the upper
part of the body is somewhat restricted. The main movement beginning from the
waist down to the feet creates a wonderful wave.
Standing on an earthen pitcher, with a bottle on the head
holding a lighted lamp, the Reang girl dances twisting the lower part of the
body rhythmically.
The Reangs use musical instruments like khamb, flute and
cymbals.
Cakma Tribe
The Bizu dance is associated with the Cakma Tribe. It is
performed in mid April. Cakmas sing and dance to bid goodbye to the year just
ended and welcome the New Year. The dance is beautifully orchestrated with the
rhythmic playing of what is known as khenggarang and dhukuk (kinds of flute.)
Malsum
Malsum of Halam community performs their famous Hai Hak dance
during the harvest season (Jhum cultivation). It is a community dance of
exquisite beauty. Rhythm of the dance reflects the tradition inherited from the
distant past.
Lusai
The welcome dance of Lusai community of Tripura is very
famous. It is performed whenever any visitor pays a visit to the house of any
Lusai. In this colorful dance, the young girls of the entire community take
part. The dress of the girls are colorful and they wear fragrant flowers.
Mog
The traditional dance of Mog community is known as Way dance
or lamp dance. This is performed in front of a Buddha temple in the month of
October during the Way festival.
Notes taken from - Encyclopedia of
Hinduism Volume IV – India Heritage Research Foundation – Page no 138 - 39.