Tribal Dances from Himachal Shine at National Festival in Madhya Pradesh

Dr. Jogendra Habbi, internationally acclaimed artist and head of the Aasra organization, announced in a press statement that folk artists from the Hati tribal region of Giripar in Sirmaur district are currently showcasing their talent at the three-day Madai Festival held in Bichhiya, Mandla district, Madhya Pradesh. The festival took place from January 9 to 11.

Dedicated to tribal culture, art, and traditions, the Madai Festival was organized by the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum with support from the Mandla district administration.

At this national-level dance festival, which highlights tribal dance forms from across India, audiences warmly applauded the performances of Singhtu dance and Dagaili naach presented under the leadership of world record holder Dr. Jogendra Habbi.

Prepared under the guidance of Padma Shri Vidyanand Saraik and Dr. Habbi, these dances were staged with striking costumes and powerful choreography. The performances sparked curiosity and admiration among audiences from Madhya Pradesh and other states, drawing attention to the rich cultural heritage of the Giripar Hati region.

Traditionally, Dagaili naach is performed on the nights of Trayodashi and Chaturdashi following Krishna Janmashtami, while Singhtu dance is performed during Diwali and Ekadashi in villages like Leunana and Kupfer Matlodi of Sirmaur district.

The colorful masks and costumes used in these dances captivated spectators. These were crafted by young artist Gopal Habbi, recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Award, with support from Aasra’s artists.

Alongside Himachal’s Singhtu and Dagaili dances, the festival also featured Gedi Kasakar from Chhattisgarh, Domkach from Jharkhand, Gudka from Odisha, Dhadhaya, Karma and Bhadauria from Madhya Pradesh, Hamza from Assam, and Mathuri and Bagh dances from Telangana. Among all these, the Giripar dances emerged as the main attraction of the event.

The three-day festival saw participation from Aasra’s artists of Jalg–Pajhota, Sirmaur, including renowned folk singer Ramlal Verma, Gopal Habbi, Bimla Chauhan, shehnai and flute player Baldev, dholak player Sandeep, Karnal and Ransingha player Ravidatt, and dancers Chaman, Manmohan, Amichand, Sunil, Saroj, Anu, Aarti, and Priya, among others.