Jhumur Dance: A Cultural Heritage of West Bengal

Introduction

Jhumur Dance, a tribal art form from the Eastern areas of India represents a vibrant cultural tapestry of traditional art form. It is deeply rooted in the intangible practices of tribal communities of eastern region, especially in the rich terrains of Purulia district, and serves as the powerful medium of social communication. It emerges as the testament to the region’s rich folk heritage. The dynamic movement in the dance form accompanied by musical instruments, serves as an artistic expression of tribal life, beliefs, and social customs. Every gesture attempts to uncover a mythical story and with every rhythm the story is continued. Its remarkable versatility along with spontaneous and natural expression sets it apart from other folk dance forms of India. The seamless blend of storytelling, theatre, and music creating a multi-dimensional performance art that resonates with the audiences thereby attempting to overcome social and cultural boundaries. Through its performance, important historical events, social messages, and traditional knowledge are passed down from generations. Jhumur dance acts as the window into the soul of Bengal’s tribal heritage.

Origins of the art-form

The historical background of this folk dance is connected with the tribal folk of West Bengal. This art form has a history of few centuries which emanated from the tribal living styles of some tribes like Kurmi, Santal and Munda. Jhumur is originally the product of social and spiritual expression of tribal life and danced at religious functions and community functions. The earliest documented evidences of Jhumur performance is dated back to Sanskrit text where similar dance forms were described as a part of tribal festivals. The name “Jhumur” itself carries immense historical significance. The name has derived from the word ‘Jhum’ or ‘Jhoom’ which denotes the slash and burn cultivation method widely used by many tribal societies. Because of this, the evolution of the dance form is undoubtedly intertwined with agriculture. The dance movements originally copied the rhythm of planting, watering, harvesting, and celebrating crop yields while fervently praying for rains. These made Jhumur dance a significant aspect of the harvest festivals. Several evidences show us that in pre-colonial and colonial time period, Jhumur dance not only served as the medium of social bonding between the various communities but also as a way of expressing collective joy and sorrow. Over time, the dance form also absorbed several devotional themes and integrated the worship of tribal deity. During postcolonial era, the art form underwent various changes, the most important being the formal recognition that it received as a folk dance. Several academic deconstruction and documentation led its integration into state sponsored cultural programmes.

 

How it flourished

Jhumur dance particularly flourished in the Eastern areas of the subcontinent that is mainly in West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha. It was adopted by tea plantation workers of Assam and West Bengal and gradually became popular among various social groups leading to its wider acceptance. The dance is now accompanied by several traditional instruments like madol, dhol, flute, etc. that, with time, became integral part of the performance. The songs were generally composed on themes of love, romance, mythical stories, stories with morals, daily experiences, struggles of rural life, spiritual themes, and relationship with nature. Traditionally it is performed by groups of women and is sometimes accompanied by men who play the instruments. The rhythmic movement that involves clapping and synchronised footwork is the integral part of this art form that provides a unique cultural expression. It mainly flourished through oral tradition and was passed down following the ‘Guru-Shishya Parampara’ (teacher-student relationship). Women generally learned about the songs and dance steps from elders who had already become professional practitioners. Jhumur became an identity marker for the tribal communities by preserving language, customary practices, and folklores.

Details about the Motifs used

The motifs are evident in the dance steps, group composition, costumes, songs, and rituals governing the dance.

One of the strongest motifs of Jhumur dance is nature. Since the dance itself relates to agriculture and cycles of change in nature, the gestures tend to mimic natural phenomena such as the swaying of leaves, the flow of rivers, or the fluttering of birds. The songs and gestures rejoice at monsoon, harvest, flowers, and the moon, showing the strong reliance of tribal life on the cycles of nature. Dancers could move in synchrony to mimic the soothing swaying of crops as a reflection of prosperity and harmony with nature.

Group and unity are another significant motif. Jhumur typically involves groups dancing together, with their hands clasped or arms thrown around each other’s waists in circles. This symbolizes the power of communal life, interdependence, and social harmony. The repetitive and synchronized movements also symbolize the common beat of rural work and the value placed on togetherness in tribal society.

The dance also employs motifs of women’s grace and fertility since the dance is traditionally done by women. Bending postures, hip movement, and light hand gestures convey themes of love, romance, and caring. A large number of Jhumur songs revolve around womanhood, marriage, and emotional relationships, so the dance is a celebration of women’s energy and life-giving power.

References to Pop Culture

While Jhumur dance originates from eastern India’s agrarian and tribal culture, it has also found its niche in popular culture, typically as an expression of authentic folk identity and heritage. In Bengali and Jharkhandi cinema, Jhumur has been employed occasionally to portray the lives, struggles, and festivals of tribal or rural folk. For instance, in regional cinema like “Jhumura” (2015, Bengali) directed by Anindya Chatterjee, Jhumur dance and music form the central themes. The movie is a portrayal of the lives and struggles of Jhumur performers and captures the challenge of folk artists in a rapidly modernizing world. Apart from showcasing the traditional Jhumur dance numbers, it also touches upon the socio-cultural significance of maintaining such forms of art.

In the mainstream Indian film, direct representation of Jhumur does not happen, but its essence is invoked every now and then in scenes trying to portray tribal festivals or rural celebrations. Folk dances with Jhumur-like steps and dress appear in rural Bengal, Odisha, or Jharkhand films, introducing the larger audience sensitively to its rhythm and beauty.

In addition, Indian television and reality shows based on India’s folk culture—such as India’s Got Talent or Dance India Dance—have included Jhumur-inspired or borrowed acts from time to time. These acts contribute to maintaining the dance and bring it into the limelight in popular media. Through such representations, Jhumur dance has succeeded in transcending its conventional domain, making a modest yet significant entry into popular culture, where it is both entertainment and a reflection of India’s rich and diverse folk heritage.

 

Conclusion

Although it is performed now on stages for wider audiences, the core authenticity of Jhumur as a dance-identify and as a traditional-culture, remains as it was. Jhumur dance form, being modernized has learned to, however survived, thrived and evolved as a cultural form which demonstrates its continuing renaissance and the role of cultural practitioners in passing on the legacy of this cultural expression to its future generations. Now, Jhumur not only defines and entertains, but also describe the cultural lookbacks, shared history of community experience and harvest, tribal traditions of today’s world. As our everyday world becomes fast paced and contemporary, we have something Jhumur folk dance form which documented and laid out our old cultures and identity. Jhumur represents the pasts and passing it on to future generations establishing and retaining cultural identities for all, and we must remember the Value of our intangible arts and our folk culture.

References

1. Ministry of Culture, Government of India https://www.indiaculture.nic.in/performing-arts
2. West Bengal Tourism – Folk Culture https://wbtourism.gov.in/culturalheritage
3. Indian Classical Dance Portal https://www.indianclassicaldance.org/folk-dances
4. Sahapedia – Online Encyclopedia of Indian Arts and Culture https://www.sahapedia.org/performing-arts
5. Sengupta, R. (2017). “Folk Music and Dance Traditions of Bengal.” Cultural Heritage of India, Vol. Ill, pp. 234-256.
6. Ministry of Culture, Government of India. (2022). “Documentation of Folk and Tribal Dances.” Retrieved from www.cultureministry.gov.in
7. Singh, M. (2021). “Evolution of Jhumur: From Fields to Stage.” International Journal of Performing Arts, 8(3), 78-92.