Chholiya (Kumaoni-छोलिया) is a dance form practised
in the Kumaun region of Uttarakhand. It is basically a sword dance accompanying a marriage procession but now it
is performed on many auspicious occasions.
It is especially popular in
the districts of Pithoragarh, Champawat, Bageshwar and Almora of Kumaon division and has even spread to the Garhwal division.
This sword dance has a history
of more than a thousand years and is rooted in the martial traditions of the Kumauni people.
Origin
Dating back to over a thousand
years, the Chholiya Dance has its origins in the warring Kshatriyas of Kumaun-
the Khasas, when marriages were performed at the point of the swords.
The native Kshatriyas were united by the Chand Kings who arrived' on the scene in the 10th century.
Flux of immigrants Rajputs who
made native kshatriyas a small minority also took on the hill customs and
influenced pahari culture with their traditions & language.The days of
marriages on the point of sword were over but the traditions attached to it
still continued.
That is why the groom is still
known as Kunwar (कुंवर)
or Raja (राजा)
(King) in Kumaun. He rides a horse in the marriage procession and wears a
Khukri in his belt.
Significance
Apart from its origins in the
martial traditions of the people of Kumaun, it is also has religious
significance.
Chholiya is performed in
marriages and is believed to be auspicious as it provides protection from evil
spirits and demons. Marriage processions were believed to be vulnerable to such
spirits who target peoples happiness. It was a common belief that demons
followed a marriage procession or Baryat(बर्यात) to bewitch the newly
married and performance of Chholiya could prevent this.
Instruments
The turi (तुरी), nagphani (नागफनी)
and ransing (रणसिंघ)
belonging to the brass instrument family are traditional instruments of the Kumaon division, were
earlier used in battles to increase the morale of the troops, are used.
Percussion
instruments like dhol (ढोल), damau (दमाऊ) which are also native to
Kumaun are played by professional musicians known as dholies.
Masakbeen(मसकबीन) or Bagpipe introduced by the British in Kumaun as instruments played in marching
bands were assimilated into the wide range of instruments played.
Woodwind
instruments like
the nausuriya muruli (नौसुरिया
मुरूली) (lit. the nine note
flute) akind of flute and jyonya (ज्योंया)
(lit. twin flute) a type of double flute native to Kumaun is also played.
Attire
Donning the traditional
Kumauni attire white churidar payajama, the taanka on
their heads, the chola,
face covered with sandal wood paste as if ready for battle equipped with tulwarswords and brass
shields. Their costume resembles the costume of the ancient martial warriors
that inhabited Kumaun.
Features
Accompanied by war-like music,
equipped with swords they dance in a perfectly synchronised manner while
engaging in mock fights with their fellow dancers.
Carrying the triangular red
flag the nisaan (निसाण),
(banners), waving their swords, with fiery expressions on the
faces they give the impression of warriors going to battle.
There are 22 men in a full
team of Chholiya dancers 8 of them are the sword dancers and the rest 14 are
musicians.
Forms
The following are the forms of
Chholiya popular all over Kumaun which differ in movements
Bisu nritya (बिसू नृत्य
)
Saraanv (mock
fights) (सरांव)
Rann nritya (lit.
war dance) (रण नृत्य)
Sarankar (सरंकार)
Veerangana (वीरांगना)
Chholiya Baja (छोलिया बाजा)
Shauka Shaili (शौका शैली)
native to Johar region
of Kumaun
Paitan Baja (पैटण बाजा)
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