CURATED BY – GANESH VAISHNAV | CITYCHIEFNEWS

(Chhattisgarh) Narayanpur, 19 October 2024/ On the occasion of Bastar Dussehra festival, Bastar Madai Saras cultural program was organized at Lalbagh ground in Jagdalpur, in which different districts of Bastar region presented different captivating presentations like Dhurva dance, Gaur dance, Kaksar dance and Mati Mandri dance on different dates. With the support and guidance of Collector of Narayanpur district Mr. Bipin Manjhi, Chief Executive Officer District Panchayat Mr. Vasu Jain, Additional Collector Mr. Birendra Bahadur Panchbhai and Mr. Badrish Sukhdeve Assistant Commissioner Tribal Development Department, artists of village Nayanar presented Kakasad dance at Lalbagh ground in Jagdalpur on 18 October. Kakasad or Kakasar dance is a folk dance performed by the young men and women of the Muria and Abujhmariya tribes of Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh. This dance is performed after the worship of Kakasad, the god of crops and rain. The music and the sweet sound of ghungroos accompanying this dance create an exciting atmosphere.

Kakasad dance is basically a Jatra dance, hence it is also called Jatra dance. The people of Muria and Abujhmariya tribes organize worship on Kakasad Jatra once a year at the religious place of the village. In this, the young men and women dress up and sing and dance the whole night. Men tie bells around their waist while the young women wear garlands of various flowers and pearls on their heads.

Kakasad dance is a religious dance of the Muria and Abujhmariya tribes. While performing it, the young dancers keep brass or iron bells tied around their waists, which produce sweet sounds. Apart from this, the young men adorn themselves with turbans, kalgi (jaling) and cowries on their heads and make themselves even more attractive with attractive costumes. The dance starts with the beat of Mandri. The young girls also play chitkul and dance to the accompaniment of Mandri. Kakasad dance, Mandri dance and Gidi dance of the Muria Abujhmariya tribe become more lyrical and beautiful.

The main artist of Kakasad dance, Jainu Salam, tells that Kakasad dance has been performed in various states of the country. Along with these artists, the branch in-charge of the Tribal Development Department, Mr. S.S. Kange was also present.