Themes
tribal dance
Dhemsa Dance, odisha
The Gadaba ethnic group that afford in Koraput District of the state Odisha is well known for having its rich cultural traditions through dresses, ornaments, and dances. Its traditional customs, the Dhemsa dance, bind with festivals, agriculture, and life cycle events.
A vibrant and group dance performed by the Gadaba tribe during festivals and other occasions. Mostly, it is considered a women's dance, characterized by joy and stories of culture with accompaniment of traditional songs and instruments played by men.
Gadaba women wear kerang which is a traditional handwoven and naturally dyed garment in red, white, and blue. The dress goes along with bead necklaces, metal earrings, and headbands, which signifies simplicity and elegance of the traditional style of the tribe. Unique earrings made out of silver, brass, or aluminum are made big and elaborated in size. Besides, they wear things like mental bangles, beaded necklaces, nose rings, and finger rings, which represent their artistic and cultural identity.
The Gadaba rejoice in several important festivals: Gutor Parab, Bandapana Parab, and Dasahara Parab. These festivals are correlated to the agricultural cycle: their sowing and harvest seasons. All mentioned events are social activities, along with their marriages, wherein the Dhemsa dance takes place.
Musical accompaniment of the Gadaba tribe comprises the instruments like mandal, tamak, mahuri, tal, and dhol, which act as rhythmic support for Dhemsa dance in heightening their cultural expressions of folk songs.