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Music and dance are a way of life in Madhya Pradesh. Tribal dances are a distinct feature of this state. Some of the important tribal dance forms of Madhya Pradesh are Gaur, Muria, Saila, Karma, Kaksar, Sugga, Matki, Phulpati, Grida among others. Most of these dance forms belong to the nomadic tribes, and they are integral to the dances of Madhya Pradesh.
The Gaur dance is the most popular dance and belongs to the south Bastar region of the state. The dance represents the hunting spirit of the tribes. The dance is commenced by the blowing of a bamboo trumpet. The dance includes both men and women. The women are adorned with decorative bead necklaces, colourful tattoos and brass fillets, while the men wear head gears adorned with horns and peacock feathers, and are armed with flutes and drums. They animatedly dance to the beats of drums.
The Muria dances are practiced in North Bastar and belong to the Muria tribes. The dances are performed in several interesting movements on drum beats and include both the boys and the girls. It is generally performed during Muria weddings.
The Karma dance is usually performed in the month of August, among the Gonds, Baigas and Oraons. This is basically a fertility dance, and pertains to the Karma Festival. Here people dance around a tree. Sikri, Ghatwar, Jhumar, Lahaka, Ektair, etc are some of the varieties of the Karma dance. In the Kaksar, men carry dummy horses on their shoulders and move slowly in a wide circle. This dance is performed in the Marias hills. The Chaitra dance festival is celebrated among the Gonds and some other communities as a symbol of thanks to the spring God.
Besides tribal dance forms, Indian classical and folk dances have also played a role in the aesthetic legacy of Madhya Pradesh. People can enjoy traditional dance, theatre and music in Madhya Pradesh during Ramleela and various other festivities. The Khajuraho Dance Festival, held at Khajuraho every year, boasts of performances by famous classical dancers from the country and abroad. This dance festival attracts tourists by thousands.
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