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Uttar
Pradesh :
There are two types of folk dances in the region - the powerful
manly dances performed by the men of Gharwal Hills, Kumaon valley
and Mussorie province and the graceful dances performed by the women
of plains. The Gharwal men dance 'Pando' derived from the 'Pandava-s'
in which the men enact the battles between the 'Pandava-s' and 'Kaurava-s'.
In the Kumaon hills and valleys, the men and women perform group
dances generally. In the plains, men perform Ahir, Kohar, Chamar,
Pasi and other varied dances to the rhythm of Dholak, Kamasi and
Hurak. The Ahir dance is full of mock battles
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using swords whereas in the Paithar dance they use the sticks as the name indicates-'paithar' is a stick.These dances are performed by some families and groups in which the men wear tight-fitting knickers and tie jingle bells to their thighs. In the 'Chamar' dance, the women folk perform some mythical dance dramas. In the 'Nautanki' and 'Ras' dance of Mathura and Brindavan, the young boys and girls perform mainly the 'Ras Leela' dances of the 'Purana-s' during Divali, Dasara and Holi festivals.
The girls' dances are full of graceful movements while the boys' dances are full of power and speed. There is copious use of Tabla, cymbals and other instruments and the dancers wear the usual costumes of a Kathak dancer.
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