The Bardo Chham dance of Arunachal Pradesh is an ancient and famous form of folk dance of the region. The state of Arunachal Pradesh is very diverse with many tribes settled out there who have varied culture, practice, lifestyle, and various kinds of dance forms which are widely practiced in the region on various occasions for their entertainment and socializing.
The Bardo Chham dance is practiced by a few tribes having descended from Tibeto-Burman origin. The Sherdukpens, a relatively minor tribal community of the West Kameng district of the state of Arunachal Pradesh is one of them. Sherdukpens is one of the major Buddhist fraternities in Arunachal Pradesh. In principle, these communities follow the Mahayana path of Buddhism.
The literal translation of Bardo Chham means ‘dance of the zodiac’. The idea or the theme behind this folk dance is the victory of good over evil. The historical past of the folk dance of Arunachal Pradesh relies extensively on the folklore derived from the native's close association with Mother Nature and her normal habitats. Their agnostic belief that everything in nature has some inherent implication leads them to apply dance dramas and performances infused with animal memories and a simplistic form of expression. The tribal people still follow the sun and moon gods and their ceremonial practices are very much linked to the primeval forces of nature. The traditional form of worship is also closely associated with the seasonal cycle and agro-activities.
Accordingly, the Sherdukpens believe twelve evil animals show up every year. Because of which they disguise themselves as animals, dance to combat the evil forces that these animals represent. The dance is performed both by the men and women of the Sherdukpens community. They dress up as distinctive animals and dance in the middle of beating drums and percussion instruments like cymbals to eradicate the evil forces.
The performers wear colorful masks (mostly of distinct animals) and enact the fight between good and bad with background music playing to enhance the performance. The dancers bring peace and joy to the community through the dramatic fight performed by the tribal dancers.
The ancient folktales, uninhibited dance moves, and dramatic flow of this ancient dance form are unparalleled and one of a kind in the entire country. The isolation of the state is responsible for preserving this extraordinary art form interwoven with its pagan way of culture and lifestyle. Usually performed in troupes, the dance is also popular in Buddhist monasteries not only in Arunachal Pradesh but in Bhutan and few other Northeastern states. Through the exotic dance of Bardo Chham, we can connect to and understand the diverse cultural background of the natives of Arunachal Pradesh.
Comments