Raut Nacha

Understand

Where Raut Nacha comes from

Raut Nacha is the folk-dance of the Raut community of Chhattisgarh, performed particularly in the Durg district as a form of devotion to Lord Krishna on the auspicious day of Dev Uthani Ekadashi (the Hindu calendar's resurrection of the gods after their short rest). The Raut community — a Hindu community historically associated with the pastoral and Yadava traditions — celebrates Krishna with this dance-re-enactment. The dance takes its name from the Raut people and documents its performance particularly in the Durg area of Chhattisgarh, where it is widely performed at the Dev Uthani Ekadashi festival and at the weddings of the Raut community. The form is closely related to the community's identification with Krishna as cowherd (its traditional occupation), and the dance includes mock-archery and stick-play sequences.

How it's practiced

Raut Nacha is performed by men of the Raut community in a dance-drama structure, with the troupe members taking the roles of Krishna, Balarama and the cowherd-gopis. The dance is performed at the festival of Dev Uthani Ekadashi (in the Prabodhini Ekadashi period of the Hindu calendar in November) and at the weddings of the Raut community. Central to the performance is the mock-archery — the dancers carry small bows and arrows and mime archery sequences with the dancing, alongside more conventional folk dance steps. The music is the dhol and the bansuri (flute) and is led by the troupe's singer with the verse-form of the Raut Nacha. Costume is the regional dress of the Raut community — the dhoti and kurta with the characteristic Raut turban, with members holding small painted bows and arrows.