Chapeli Nritya

Understand

Where Chapeli Nritya comes from

Chapeli Nritya is the men's-and-women's traditional dance of the Garhwal region, performed at the marriage cycle of the Garhwal communities. The dance is associated with the chapeli song-cycle of the Garhwal — a tradition of the regional folk-song poetry that has been preserved across the region and is one of the most documented Garhwali folk traditions. The chapeli song-cycle is closely related to the wider northern Indian tradition of the love-song and marriage-song. The dance is regularly performed at the marriage of the Garhwal community and at the cultural festivals of the state.

How it's practiced

Chapeli Nritya is performed by men and women of the Garhwal community in a circle at the courtyard of the host's home during the marriage cycle. The men and women dance in coordinated steps to the chapeli song-cycle (the love-and-marriage verse tradition of the Garhwal), with the women's small hand-gestures and the men's footwork. Music is the dhol, the shehnai and the small Hurka drum of the region. Costume is the regional Garhwal dress — the colourful sari for the women and the dhoti-kurta with the regional cap for the men. Performances are at the marriage cycle and at the cultural programmes of the Garhwal.