Folk Dances of West Bengal

Folk Dances of West Bengal reflect the rich cultural heritage of the state. The different folk dances of this state are well-known for their fervour and beauty. Each and every region of West Bengal bears something distinct to exhibit. Dances are a part of tribal lifestyle.

Brita Dance:

It is mainly an invocation dance performed by women of West Bengal, who are unable to give birth to children. Only women perform this dance, as a sign of bowing down before God, after they give birth to the children.

                                Chhau Dance

It is one of the famous tribal martial dances in India. This dance is a mask dance which is performed only by the male dancers in Bengal. It is also a mythological dance, as it is mainly based on different episodes of the great epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Nabanna Dance



Nabanna is a ritualistic dance performed after the autumn harvest. It is part of a religious ceremony associated with cultivation and harvesting. The dance is an expression of the happiness of the farmers’ families after a successful harvest.


Gambhira Dance

Gambhira dance is an example of one of the most famous devotional folk dances of Bengal. This folk dance is performed specially during Charak festival and it is very much popular in North Bengal, especially in Malda district. It is a solo performance whereby the participant wears a mask while performing the dance.

Read more : Folk Dances of West Bengal