Sunil Baraik and Bisheshwar Munda
Department of Tribal &
Regional Languages,
Peculiarities
of Munda Folk-Song & Dance
Jharkhand is the eastern part
of Central
tribal belt of
Munda folk
dances are very much different from other AA groups like Kharia, Santhal and
Ho. Even the instruments which are used by the Mundas are very much bigger than
the other AA tribes. They have got many variations according to the season and
time (morning, evening, night, midnight etc.). Munda male and female never join
hands together while dancing. They divide themselves into two groups i.e.; Male
and Female, where male group leads the song and the other follows it. Use of
synonyms, which have no meaning in the daily language, is extensive in the
folk-songs of the Mundas.
In my paper I
will discuss questions such as: what are the characteristics that make them
peculiar? Why the females never lead or join hands with the male while dancing.
How many dancing patterns (styles) they have according to time and season? What
are the instruments they use? What are the myths related to songs and dances of
the Mundas?