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Hill Songs & Dances

Traditional art forms from Bengal’s hills

Description

The vibrant ethnic communities of Darjeeling and Kalimpong bring forth a rich tapestry of traditions, folk dances, melodies, and celebrations. Their performances honor nature`s elements, paying homage to the sky, earth, mountains, rivers, and forests. These artistic expressions celebrate ancestral legacies, mark new harvests, and rejoice in celestial phenomena like the full moon and rainfall. Rooted in Buddhism and Shamanism, the hills` folk songs and dances beautifully mirror the cultural unity among Himalayan communities, transcending geographical boundaries.

Process

  • Themes: The themes often celebrate the natural beauty of the hills, portraying the flora, fauna, and the lives of hill communities. They may reflect harvest festivals, stories of resilience, and the symbiotic relationship between people and nature.
  • Style: The dance style incorporates graceful movements, often depicting elements of daily life like farming, hunting, or rituals. Performers use fluid, flowing motions, and sometimes incorporate props like sticks or baskets, showcasing a blend of elegance and rhythmic footwork.
  • Instruments: Traditional musical accompaniments may include the dotara (a string instrument), flute, madal (a type of drum), and bamboo percussion instruments. These instruments create melodic tunes and lively rhythms, enriching the performance and reflecting the cultural heritage of the hill regions in West Bengal

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Village Festival

Kalimpong Festival was held on 14th and 15th of Feb 2023 at Town Hall, Kalimpong, where we also celebrated the 6th year of Kalimpong district Foundation day, which was on 14th of February. The festival was inaugurated by the District Magistrate of Kalimpong District, Smt. R. Vimala along with prominent dignitaries of Kalimpong. Members and Chairman of different cultural and development boards supported the festival with their participation. The festival was happy to welcome eight different communities, namely Lepcha. Sherpa, Gurung, Mangar, Tamang, Tibetan and Limbu who performed and participated in the festival. The colours of the Festival were portrayed through different dance forms like the Selo dance, Hura Dance , Seng-se Dance popularly called the Snow Lion Dance, etc, along with few crafts and some locally made products were showcased along with delicacies of Kalimpong.

International Visit

No artist visited abroad as of now.