Thadiya Nritya

Understand

Where Thadiya Nritya comes from

Thadiya Nritya is the women's wedding dance of the Kumaon region, performed at the marriage of the regional communities with the songs of the thadya (the wedding-song cycle of Kumaon). The dance is one of the defining markers of the Kumaoni women's wedding culture and is preserved as a community tradition at the regional Harela and the marriage. The thadya song-cycle is a defining part of the Kumaoni folk literature and is one of the most documented women's traditions of the region.

How it's practiced

Thadiya Nritya is performed by women of the Kumaoni community in a circle at the courtyard of the bride's home at the marriage. The women sing the thadya (the wedding-song cycle) and dance in slow swaying steps in time to the song. The dance is gentle, with the women's small hand-gestures and the light clapping of the palms. The accompanying music is the dhol and the brass shehnai (with the small Hurka drum in the smaller celebrations). Costume is the colourful Kumaoni women's sari with the heavy silver jewellery of the region. Performances are at the wedding eve and at the morning of the marriage, and continue for several hours through the night.