Deodhani Nritya is the Shaman folk dance of Assam, India performed at Manasa Puja to pay homage to the goddess of snakes. It is a religious dance performed principally by women, although it may sometimes be done with men. The dancers are said to be “possessed” with spiritual powers of a god or goddess, essentially acting as a channel to communicate with the mortal and divine worlds.
Key Points:
- Historical Background & Significance of Deodhani Dance
The Deodhani dance connects the Assamese people to nature, spirituality & community, where it’s celebrated in the community context. Deodhani dance comes at the root of Shaman folk dance, performed at the festival Manasa Puja. This dance is accordingly seen in traditional folklore, mythology & Assamese culture. - Performance Style
The Deodhani dance can be performed by one individual dancer or in groups, usually by three or four women. Whether there is a group of twelve or twenty dancers or a solo dancer, the dance remains centric to women only. The women dancers embody a trance-like state which merges with the spirituality and rhythmic enhancing sounds of the Kham drum and Ciphung flute. - Religious Context:
Deodhani Nritya is a religious and spiritual dance form. The dancers are said to be possessed by the spiritual power of either a god or goddess, they serve as a channeller, a medium between the mortal community and the deity itself, communicating with the deity during the dance. - Instruments
The dance and performance in Deodhani practice uses various sounds, supported instrumentally by the Kham (drum) and Ciphung (flute) sounds to create an energetic trance-like environment. - Cultural Significance
The Deodhani dance represents a dynamic snapshot of Assamese culture that captures their beliefs and mythological allegories, ultimately connecting to and demonstrating the spiritual realm from which their Cherished Assamese dance tradition comes from.
