Dalkhai Dance of Orissa

Dalkhai Dance of Orissa:

Dalkhai dance of Orissa is a very common folk art of the state. Dalkhai dance is a gorgeous part of various ritual festivals of Orissa. Dalkhai word refers for addressing a girl friend. This word use from beginning to end of this dance so it is named as Dalkhai dance. Dalkhai folk dance is a beautiful part of various rich and vibrant communities of Orissa.  Mirdha, Kuda, Binjhal, Sama etc. are important tribes perform Dalkhai dance as a part of their ancient culture and tradition. Sundergarh, Sambalpur, Dhenkanal and Bolangir districts of Orissa are very famous for this Dalkhai folk dance.

Dalkhai is a women folk dance in which various female dancers from various communities participate. Role of drummer plays by male persons of tribes. Male participator plays drum and create melodious rhythm for dance performance. Female dancers sing various ritual songs. These songs reflect love of Radha-Krishna, stories of Ramayana, stories of Mahabharata etc. Nisan and Tamki are beautiful part of this folk dance. Tamki is a single sided tiny drum which plays by a pair of stick where as Nisan is a giant drum which plays by palms.

Dalkhai is a very charming and beautiful folk dance. In this folk dance female dancers participate with colorful adornments and jewelry. They move beautiful according to tempo of drums. Some time they banned their knees, some time they turns beautifully, some of time they fix their body on a specific position of dance. Overall it is a fabulous folk dance of Orissa. There is a melodious video of Dalkhai dance of Orissa as follows.