Folk Dances
  1. Paika Akhada : Paika Akhada is the traditional martial art form.This Dance pattern is attributed to the valiant militia known as the Paikas.During ancient time the Paikas were the taditional Warriors who fought for their kingdom.The Samartarang of Barjanath badjana depicts the courage of this martial class.Now a days the descendents of those fighters are scattered in the rural areas of the dist. and still up keep their tradition.During dasahara atleat 200 groups of Paikas cogrigate at Sura Pratap ground to exhibit the age old martial tradition.
  2. Gopala Laudi : This dance pattern is popular among the gopalas are the gowallas. A group of 12 to 16 persons dressed with attractive costumes and a set of wooden sticks dance.While,the singer sings the songs of the cow herd boys .This depicts the dance and playfulness of Lord Krishna and his cowherd mates.

        During Dola Purnima the gopalas display this form dance while, celbrating the festival.  

  1. Danda Nacha : This is the most popular form of folk dance.Danda nacha has a spiritual backround .According to scholars this form dance originated by Lord Siva.In the month of Baisakha the Danduas observes a spiritual ritual and observe fasting .After complition of Jhamu yatra they setout for public performance.During the fasting they worship a stick know as Danda at the temple of their Goddess.Danda nacha has Diferent aspects of the life of the rural folk.The episodes like Chadaiah –Chadiani ,Patrasoura,Nabakeli,Hadi – Hadiyani ,Tulabhina reflects various characters of the society

  2. GUMURA : Dhenkanal District has a special type of Ghumura dance. The ‘Shara’ Tribe perform this dance. Four to ten persons dance to the tune of ‘Gumura’- a musical instruments made of a medium sized earthen pot covered with Goat skin. This instrument is an ancient one & the ‘Sharas’ used it as ‘Vira Badya’ while their tribal chief set out for a campaign. Now we find Ghumura Groups at Hindol, Odapada, Gondia, Sadar Block.

  3. Changu : The Juangas perform the Changu dance. Changu is an instrument in which goat skin is covered over a wooden structure. The Juangs having  a group of ten to fifteen men and women dance together while the musicians play the Changu. Changu dance is performed in the occasions like marriage, harvesting festivals, birthdays and so on. The Juangs of Kamakhyanagar, Bhuban etc. stil kept  their tradition alive.

  4. Bandi Nacha : Bandi was the sister of Chandra Sena, the  husband of Shree Radha. Bondi had love for Shree Krishna. In the Bondi Nacha form the frustration and dismay of Bondi’s one sided love for Krishna is reflected.

  5. Odissi Kirtan : Unlike the Nadia Kirtan where the singers, Musicians and the participants dance, the participants of Odissi Kirtan Sit in a row and perform the Kirtan. They sing the ‘Odissi Bhajans’ in the pure Odissi Style by following ‘raga’ & ‘talas’. Odissi Kirtan is performed in the occasions like ‘Dolo Purnima’ ‘Gamha Purnima’, ‘Snana Purnima’, ‘Ratha Yatra’ and many other socio religious functions.

  6. Dhuduki Nacha : ‘Dhuduki Nacha’ is displayed by to or more persons. The players use an instruments known as ‘Dhuduki’ which is made of a medium sized wooden drum cover with iguana skin and a wooden bar in the middle of the drum tied with metal string. The ‘Dhuduki’ dancers dressed with attractive costumes sing & dance and at the intervals play their ‘Dhuduki’.

  7. Kendera Gita : The Yogis or the Nathas sect play the Kendera while begging. Kendera is a small musical instrument like violin.

  8. Kandhei Nacha : There are ‘Kandhei Nacha’ Groups or Puppet Theatres at Bhapur. This art form based on the preparation of  Puppets of different charaters. The theatre group moves from to place to place. They prepare a temporary stage and perform the historical, Social Plays through the puppets. The puppets were controlled by threads connected with the fingers of the puppet artists behind the back drop.

  9. Ghoda Nacha : ‘Ghoda Nacha  is a popular folk dance in Dhenkanal. Generally the fishermen  perform this dance. A male member of the team enters in a wooden structure of a horse and holds it around his waist looking as if riding the horse. He dances with a female partner with the music of trumpet and drum. Both the partner ask witty questions to each other in their songs. While the male asks the question the female replies and vice-versa.

  10. Mahila Palla : ‘Palla’ is the age old performing art. Years ago it was performed by the males only. But with the advancement of the time the females have come out and participated in palla. The Mahila Palla is performed exclusively by the females. The Gayika, the Baika, the Palia and the Siri Palia all are females. The Mahila Palla groups are found at Kamakhyanagar, Jamuna Kot, Gondia and Sadar Block.