Chholiya Dance of Uttarakhand
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The origins of this ancient dance may be traced back approximately 1000 years to the warring Kshatriyas of the Kumaon areas, when weddings were performed at the tip of swords.
It was also done to keep off bad spirits who were said to be following the baraat since they preyed on people's happiness. Anyone who performed the Chholiya dance at the period was said to be able to expel this energy. This performance, in which the dancers are costumed in colourful traditional clothing, is set to the rhythmic banging of the drums, which sounds like music describing warlike scenarios. Nowadays, it is also done in processions and is often classified as a sword dance.
The Chholiya has become a symbol of Kumaoni and Sudurpashchimi cultures and is a performative depiction of a sword fight, accompanied by folk songs. The dance is similar to martial arts, where deception is used to trick opponents before attacking them.
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