Deodhani dance

'''Deodhani dance''' is a Shaman folk dance from the Indian state of Assam. It can be performed either solo or in a group. Deodhani is of Bodo origin.<ref>Arabinda Nath Sharma writes, “Deodhani and Deodhai” dance are connected with the culture of Bodo-kachari(the original inhabitants) of the state. Deodhai, the male oracle, and Deodhani, the female oracle, as priestly dances are essential at the time of various ethnic folk religious beliefs like Marai Puja, Kherai etc. {{URL|https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/145313/11/11_chapter%203.pdf}}</ref> A group performance of Deodhani generally consists of three or four women. The dance form is associated with the worship of the snake goddess Marei/Maroi.<ref>{{cite web |title=A ritual dance, Deodhani dance, Assam, Travel, India Video |url=https://www.indiavideo.org/assam/art/ritual-deodhani-dance-2049.php |website=IndiaVideo |access-date=12 March 2022 }}</ref> A Deodhani dance is generally performed to the accompaniment of songs sung by an ''Ojha'', a traditional chorus leader in the Darrang district of Assam.<ref name="webindia">[http://www.webindia123.com/Assam/ARTS/ojapali.htm Oja-pali] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011131648/http://www.webindia123.com/Assam/ARTS/ojapali.htm |date=11 October 2013 }}, WebIndia</ref>

==History==

thumb|Deodhoni Dance Ritual Deodhani is derived from two words – ''Deo'', which means God, and ''Dhani'', which means woman, literally meaning a woman possessed (Shaman) by god. A male Shaman form is also present, called 'Deodha-Joki' in ''Kamrup'' by the Bodo people and 'Deodhai' elsewhere in Assam. Deodhani depicts the dance of a Shaman woman or man when he or she is possessed by a spiritual being. In Deodhani, the songs sung by Ojapali are known as Xuknoni in undivided Darrang district and is quite distinct from the aboriginal 'Deodha-Joki' origin & ritualistic oracle cum Shamanistic dance form of the Kaibarta-Jalkeot community in Undivided Kamrup district it is accompanied by Bor-Dhol's.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nezcc.in/layouts/2012-09-08-10-40-06/assam-performing-arts |title=Assam - Performing Arts |publisher=Nezcc.in |date=2012-09-08 |accessdate=2013-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010130418/http://www.nezcc.in/layouts/2012-09-08-10-40-06/assam-performing-arts |archive-date=10 October 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="hpage1">{{cite web |url=http://info-assam.hpage.co.in/folk-dances-of-assam_45774691.html |title=Beauty Of Assam |publisher=Info-assam.hpage.co.in |date=2009-11-28 |accessdate=2013-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214003651/http://info-assam.hpage.co.in/folk-dances-of-assam_45774691.html |archive-date=14 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Specification== Dancers take a sword and shield and present a virile war dance during the performance.<ref name="hpage1"/><ref>{{cite book|title=Sainik Samachar: The Pictorial Weekly of the Armed Forces|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fnffAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=9 June 2013|year=1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107142144/http://books.google.com/books?id=fnffAAAAMAAJ|archive-date=7 January 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deodhani Dance}} Category:Dances of Assam Category:Hindu dance traditions Category:Indian folk dances