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Jhijhian Dance of Bihar

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Trewen Dass
Jhijhian Dance of Bihar

Jhijhiya (also called Jhijhari) is a cultural folk dance of Mithila and Bhojpuri region of India and Nepal.It is performed during the Dusshera festival, in the Hindu month of Ashwin (September/October). The dance is performed to offer devotion towards goddess Durga—the goddess of victory as well as to protect one's family, children and society from witches and dark magic



Objective of Jhijhian Dance

This dance is related to rain and the objective is very different. The cultivation of food crops is an important means of living in India hence the rain is the most important factor. So, it is sung when there is no rain for a long time than its usual arrival. Through 'Jhijhian', the villagers portray the drought when there is not a single drop of rain anywhere, the lands are cracked and parched, the sky is lifeless without clouds and the people are awaiting rains. Hence, this is an exact time, for the performance of this dance, when the village women pray to Lord Indra for rain.


Performance

The dance is performed by the people of Mithila and Bhojpuri region of India and Nepal. The dance is performed every evening from the day of Ghatasthapana to Bijaya Dashami. It is believed that this dance is performed to protect one's children and society from witches. It is believed that the ritual was initiated to reduce the influence of the witches' magic upon one's family. Women dance with a clay pot on their head. Multiple holes are made inside the pot and a lamp is kept inside it. There is also a popular belief that if a witch succeeds in counting the holes in the pot placed on a woman's head, the dancing woman will die immediately.




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