The Bihu dance (Assamese: বিহু নৃত্য, Hindi: बिहू नृत्य) is a folk dance from the Indian state of Assam related to the Bihu festival. This joyous dance is performed by both young men and women, and is characterized by brisk dance steps,and rapid hand movement. Dancers wear traditionally colorful Assamese clothing. Though the origins of the Bihu dance is unknown, the first official endorsement is cited to be when Ahom king Rudra Singha invited Bihu dancers to perform at the Ranghar fields around 1694,on the occasion of Rongali Bihu.

1. Bihu dance form of Assam

3. ABOUT BIHU DANCE
The BIHU dance is a folk dance form of state of
Assam which is related to the BIHU festival.
This joyous dance is performed by both young
men and women
This dance is characterised by brisk steps and
rapid hand movements
For this dance dancers wera traditional
colourful assamee cloting .

4. ORIGIN OF THE DANCE
• Its origin is unknown but as per the official
records this dance is introduced by AHOM
KING RUDRA SINGHA at RANGHAR field in
the year 1694 on the occasion of RONGALI
BIHU

5. DESCRIPTION
• The Bihu is a group dance in which males and
females dance together but maintain different
gender roles.
• The dance is usually characterised by definite
postures like Movements of the Hips, Arms,
Wrists, Twirls, Squats and Bends but no Jumps.

6. PERFORMANCE
• The dance is performed in accompaniment with
traditional Bihu music .
• The most important musicians are
Drummers(Dhulia), who play a particular twin faced
drum, the dhol slung from neck and played with one
stick and a palm.
• There are usually more than one dhulia in a
performance and they play different rythms and
compositions at different sections of the
performance.
• .

7. • These rhythemic compositions called SUES are
traditionaly codified.
• The Mohor Xingor Pepa is played generally in
the begining by a single player who lays out an
initial plaintive motif and that sets the mood for
the dance.

8. INSTRUMENTS USED
• The TAAL,a type of clash cymbal,the
gogona , a reed and bamboo instrument the
TOKA , the bamboo clapper, the XUTULI, a
CLAY WHISTLE, BAMBOO FLUTE.

9. Toka bamboo clapper

10. Dol clay whistle

11. FORMS OF BIHUDANCE
• The dance takes several forms among the
northeast Indian groups.
Eg; “Deori Bihu Dance”, “Missing bihu dance” etc
This dance express the desire to feel both PAIN
and HAPPINESS....

12. RONGALI BIHU
• In mid April along with the onset of spring falls
the new year in the local calendar with the
month of BOHAG.
• On this day apart from Bihu dance they conduct
competitions to select the Bihu Kunwari (Bihu
Princess)and various singing talents.
• At the end of this month they do farewell for this
month it is said to BOHAGI BIDAI...

13. Credit :Amrutha K V