News: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will will attend a traditional Bodo cultural programme in Guwahati, where around 10,000 artists will perform the Bagurumba dance.
About Bagurumba Dance
- Bagurumba is a ancient traditional folk dance of the Bodo community of Assam.
- Origin: It was initially performed as a ritual dance connected with harvest, nature worship, and spiritual practices.
- Over time, Bagurumba evolved from village ceremonies into a major cultural symbol.
- It is prominently performed during the Bwisagu, the Bodo New Year, and Domasi festival.
- Features of Bagurumba
- Bagurumba is popularly known as the “Butterfly Dance” because of its gentle, flowing, and fluttering hand movements.
- The dance is traditionally performed by women of Bodo Community in groups with synchronized movements.
- Musical instruments are being played by male counterparts.
- Circular and geometric formations are commonly used, symbolizing harmony and balance in nature.
- The choreography reflects elements of nature such as birds, rivers, trees, and butterflies, showing the Bodo people’s close relationship with the environment.
- Costume of Bagurumba
- The dancers wear traditional Bodo attire known as dokhona, which is a handwoven, bright red, yellow, and green wraparound cloth, jwmgra and an aronai which is a beautifully designed traditional scarf, is draped over the shoulders.
- Floral ornaments and traditional jewelry are used to enhance the elegance and beauty of the performance.
- Musical Instruments Used in Bagurumba: The dance is accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as:
- Serja which is a violin-like string instrument, provides melody.
- Kham which is a traditional drum which maintains the rhythm.
- Siphung which is a bamboo flute, adds a soothing musical tone.
- Jotha, a type of cymbal which enhances the rhythmic beats of the dance are used.
