Dance of life
Tripura artistes dance at the programme.Photo: STAR
Speakers at a discussion in Khagrachhari last Thursday were of the view that dance is an indivisible part of Tripura culture and heritage.
In the Tripura community, the tradition of dance is older than singing. Dancing is not only perceived as a form of entertainment, but also an art to inspire people. Tripuras consider dancing a medium through which angry gods and goddesses can be appeased.
The discussion titled, "Dance: Traditional Tripura Indigenous Culture," was organised by Gairing Cultural Forum (GCF), a local group that has been working to uphold the Tripura traditions in Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). The event was held at the Town Hall in Khagrachhari.
CHT Refugee Affairs Task Force Chairman Zatindra Lal Tripura attended as the chief guest, while Bangladesh Tripura Students Forum's (BTSF) central committee president Joy Prakash Tripura presided over the discussion.
During the discussion, speakers elaborated on the various aspects of dance in Tripura life. For example, 'Haba' dance, also known as 'Jhum' dance, is performed to seek blessings for good harvest. 'Khatharok' dance urges for abundance of water, and 'Haja-giri' dance appeases the god Shiva.
Among others, Khagrapur Mahila Kalyan Samity president Shepalika Tripura; Jana Sanghati Samity's Khagrachhari district committee president Shaktipado Tripura; Bangladesh Tripura Kalyan Sangsad president Monindra Kishore Tripura and Gairing Cultural Forum director Roy Tripura spoke at the discussion.
Later, local Tripura artistes presented demonstrations of their traditional 'Jhum' dance, bottle dance, 'Haja-giri' dance and candle dance.
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