This video was taken at a social congregation in Purulia, India, where a group of tribal folk artists were performing Jhumur (Jhumar) dance at the valley, Joychandi Pahar (hill) in the backdrop. This particular dance form was performed by males (dressed as females).

Jhumur is a folk dance form mainly popular amongst the tribal people of eastern India. Jhumur originated as a type of fertility song of the tribal people usually sung as accompaniment to dance. Apart from the drum, various instruments used are kartal, bansuri, dhol and so on. The dancers move around in circles with the musical instruments placed at the centre. There are more than twenty types of Jhumur. In order to appreciate the beauty of Jhumur songs, it is necessary to study them in their proper perspective.

Joychandi hill is a popular tourist centre and major attraction for rock climbing in the Indian state of West Bengal in Purulia district. It is two kilometres from the Raghunathpur town. Joychandi Pahar railway station is on the Asansol – Adra section of South Eastern Railway.

Experience Bengal
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Nabapatrika rituals on the Maha Saptami day at the Ganga river bank, 2019

The Nabapatrika (nine plants) including a banana leaf or plantain, wrapped in a white or red sari and symbolically represent the mother goddess Durga, are being carried to nearby river and pujas performed on Maha Saptami day of the Durga Puja ceremony. Nine plants represent nine forms of Durga - Mother Nature.

Nabapatrika was actually a popular ancient ritual performed by the peasants/farmers worshipping Mother Nature for successful harvest. Later when Durga Puja became a popular festival of Bengal, all the nine holy rituals of the Nabapatrika, were added to the ceremonies of Durga Puja.

Nabapatrika also referred as Kolabou, popularly known as Lord Ganesha's wife, but in reality it has no relationship with Ganesha.

Ganga River Bank, Judges Ghat, Kolkata
Experience Durga Puja in Kolkata........ An Experience of A Lifetime! October 22-26, 2020

Images of Bengal, India

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Repost
Kirtan dancers performing in one of the akharas (tents of religious sects) in Jaydev-Kenduli, Birbhum district during Makarsankranti mela....

Makar Sankranti is one of the few ancient Indian festivals that has been observed according to solar cycles, marks the first day of sun's transit into the Makara (Capricorn) from Sagittarius (January 14/15), marking the end of the month with the winter solstice and the start of longer days.

Thousands of Hindu devotees from all over Bengal gather at Jaydev Kenduli, take a holy dip in the Ajay river with thanksgiving to the sun for their successes and prosperity. The bathing is believed to result in merit or absolution of past sins. The devotees also perform rituals and prayer (puja and prasada offerings) at the river bank in remembrance of their departed family members and they also seek blessings for their departed souls!

Kenduli Mela
On the auspicious day of Makar Sankranti, one of biggest and 800 years old religious fair of West Bengal is coordinated to remember poet Jayadeva. Several thousand bauls, a community of wandering minstrels who sing devotional songs, assemble for the fair and as such it is also referred to as Baul Mela (Fair). The bauls stay in 160 temporary hermitages at Jaydev Kenduli for around a month. However, in recent years, the greatest baul fair in the state is gradually losing its character, as the bauls have been outnumbered by kirtanias, who perform kirtan (devotional singing) in the mela to gain popularity. Around 2,000 kirtanias come to attend the mela annually.

Jaydev Kenduli is a village at the bank of the Ajay river in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is believed by many to be the birthplace of poet Jayadeva Goswami (born c. 1170 AD), who had composed Gita Govinda in Sanskrit. Maharani Brajakishori of Bardhaman had set up the Radhabinod temple at Jaydev Kenduli in 1683, where the house of the poet Jayadeva, was believed locally to have stood. Subsequently, many ashramas (hermitages) were set up and Jaydev Kenduli developed as a religious centre.

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Celebrating The Invincible
The Buffalo-Demon (Mahishasura) invades Earth. The Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) plan to kill Mahishasura by co-creating a beautiful goddess, Durga. In Durga, the Gods bestowed their powers with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon. Durga, riding the lion, kills Mahishasura....

Chhau, the masked dance of the ancient warrior, is hugely popular across the tribal areas of West Bengal and Bihar. Magnificent outsized masks, breathtaking acrobatics, wild combat and comedy scenes accompanied by powerful drumming make the performance an unforgettable experience!

Chhau is perhaps the oldest masked dance in the world having originated in the soldiers barracks of the past when Rarh (part of Bengal and Bihar state of India) was a mighty military nation. In 2010 the Chhau dance was inscribed in the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Though there are three prominent Chhau styles today, the Mayurbhanj, Seraikella and Purulia dance styles, the Purulia Chhau dance is said to be the original and is the most vigorous.

Murguma is a beautiful place in purulia. It is a huge waterbody, a man made dam, surrounded by hills. Muruguma Lake and the forest will make your trip worthwhile. This place can be reached by car from both Purulia and Muri (Jharkhand) stations.

Beautiful Bengal, India

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1. Ganesha, the God of Success, a prominent character from the Indian mythology
2. God of War, Kartikeya, riding a peacock as the 'Vahana' (vehicle that carries a deity)
3. The Buffalo-Demon (Mahishasura) invades Earth
4. Lord Brahma, the Creator God, asks Mahishasura to leave
5. The Holy Trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva) then plan to kill Mahishasura by co-creating a beautiful goddess, Durga, with ten arms, each carrying their most lethal weapon.....

Chhau, the masked dance of the ancient warrior, is hugely popular across the tribal areas of West Bengal and Bihar. Magnificent outsized masks, breathtaking acrobatics, wild combat and comedy scenes accompanied by powerful drumming make the performance an unforgettable experience!

Chhau is perhaps the oldest masked dance in the world having originated in the soldiers barracks of the past when Rarh (part of Bengal and Bihar state of India) was a mighty military nation. In 2010 the Chhau dance was inscribed in the UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Though there are three prominent Chhau styles today, the Mayurbhanj, Seraikella and Purulia dance styles, the Purulia Chhau dance is said to be the original and is the most vigorous.

Murguma is a beautiful place in purulia. It is a huge waterbody, a man made dam, surrounded by hills. Muruguma Lake and the forest will make your trip worthwhile. This place can be reached by car from both Purulia and Muri (Jharkhand) stations.

Beautiful Bengal, India

Tags:   Chhau dance dancer mask tribal dance Murguma Purulia West Bengal India Sunset folk dance tribal Ramayana traditional dancers ancient folk oldest masked dance travel tourism warrior dance rural bengal village life video

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