Phagli (Phagli Nritya)

Understand

Where Phagli (Phagli Nritya) comes from

Phagli (or Phulaich) is the men's folk-dance of the Sirmaur and Bilaspur regions of Himachal Pradesh, performed at the annual Phagli (or Phulaichi) fair of the village goddess. The form is one of the most distinctive regional traditions of the Sirmaur hills and is performed at the autumnal fair of the village. The dance is associated with the celebration of the new harvest and of the village goddess. The Phagli is part of the broader Pahari folk-dance tradition of Himachal Pradesh and is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the state.

How it's practiced

Phagli is performed by men of the Sirmaur community in a circle at the central village ground of the festival. The men dance in vigorous steps and sing the songs of the Phagli cycle. The dance is energetic, with the small jumps and turns of the Pahari men's dance vocabulary. Music is the dhol, the shehnai and the small regional instruments of the festival ensemble. Costume is the regional dress — the dhoti, the kurta and the colourful Pahari cap. Performances are at the annual fair of the village and at the cultural programmes of the state.