India’s cultural richness is not limited to temples or scriptures—it also lives in our folk dances, which carry the heartbeat of local traditions, legends, and collective memories. In the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, one such extraordinary tradition is Pandav Nritya, also known as Pandav Lila. This sacred storytelling dance drama enacts the epic tales of the Mahabharata.
Pandav Nritya – Ritual, Reverence & Retelling
Pandav Lila is more than a performance—it’s a spiritual offering. Performed by villagers in the Garhwal region, this traditional folk dance-drama narrates stories of the five Pandava brothers. It’s staged mostly between October and January, with locals participating as performers, storytellers, musicians, and audience members, often blurring the line between them.
Each performance lasts for hours—sometimes overnight—and includes song, dance, theatrical gestures, and live musical accompaniments. It invokes powerful emotions and a deep connection with divinity. Interestingly, it’s not just a form of entertainment; it’s believed to be an invocation of the Pandavas’ spirits.
Dhol Sagar – The Sacred Text of Folk Music
Central to these performances is the Dhol, a traditional drum used with specific rhythms for each part of the ritual. The drumbeats follow a rhythm system known as Dhol Sagar—an oral treatise passed down through generations of drummers and musicians. It’s not written in books but committed to memory, symbolising the oral legacy of Indian performing arts.
Other Dying Folk Dances of Uttarakhand
Sadly, many other folk dance forms in Uttarakhand are vanishing due to migration, modernisation, and lack of documentation. A few noteworthy ones include:
- Chholiya: A warrior dance of the Kumaon region, performed with swords and shields.
- Jhora and Thali: Circular community dances performed during festivals and marriages.
- Langvir Nritya: A male acrobatic pole dance, now barely seen in villages.
These dances not only celebrate seasonal cycles, mythologies, and life events, but also serve as a medium for social bonding and preserving community identity.
Preserving the Pulse of a Culture
With younger generations moving away and adopting urban lifestyles, these dances are fading into the background. Some cultural organisations are making efforts to document and revive them, but much needs to be done in terms of support, funding, and awareness.
As audiences and storytellers, we carry the responsibility to support, share, and celebrate such living traditions before they disappear forever.
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Neerja Bhatnagar
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It is amazing to know about such rich cultural traditions of our land especially the Pandava Lila dance ,alos sad that we know one to carry forward the torch these folk art forms are dying.We need more posts like to make them popular again and conserve them,