The three-day 11th National Tribal Dance Festival, 2022 was inaugurated by ST & SC Development, Minorities & Backward Classes Welfare Minister Jagannath Saraka at the Rabindra Mandap here. The national event is being organized by SCSTRTI with support from the Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs from May 19 to 21.

This National Tribal Dance Festival features a cultural show to preserve, propagate and popularize by showcasing the rich cultural wealth of the picturesque tribals of different states like Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and Odisha.

The platform for the events of live performances of different tribal dances gives a glimpse of the dance tradition of tribal India.

The 3-day national event of gaiety presents as many as thirty colourful dance forms of 20 tribal communities.  The cultural programme will be held from 6.30 PM to 9.00 PM from May 19 to 21.

First day cultural event of the National Tribal Dance Festival included the Dangi Dance of Kunbi Tribe of Gujarat; Khoiguna Laam (Bee mating dance) of Rongmei/ Kabui Tribe, Manipur; Birli Dance of Durua Tribe, Odisha; Bihu Dance of Tiwa and Bodo Tribe, Assam; Kachi Ghodi Dance of Bhil Meena Tribe, Rajasthan; Dandaras Dance of Gaddi Tribe, Himachal Pradesh; Bijapandu Dance of Koya Tribe, Odisha; Nyung–Ma-Kaapu Dance of Sherpa Tribe, Sikkim; Sheila Dance of Gond Tribe, Uttar Pradesh; and Cheraw Dance of Mizo Tribe, Mizoram.

The day-2 programme presents different colourful tribal dances, like Ghusadi Dance of Gond Tribe, Maharashtra; Chaurang Dance of Velip Tribe, Goa; KaramThapadi Dance of Oraon Tribe, Jharkhand; Mayura Dance of Kondh Tribe, Andhra Pradesh; Kalasi Dance of Santal Tribe, Odisha; Bori Dance of Bhil Meena Tribe, Rajasthan; Sarlamkai Dance of Mizo Tribe, Mizoram; Dhemsa Dance of Gadaba Tribe, Odisha; Gaurmar Mandri Dance of Gond Tribe, Chhattisgarh; and Hathi Dance of Jaunsari Tribe of Uttarakhand.

The third evening of the cultural event presents colourful tribal dances such as Karma Dance of Gond Tribe, Uttarpradesh; Fagli Dance of Swangla Tribe, Himachal Pradesh; Dhemsa Dance of Paroja Tribe, Odisha; Hiran Dance of Jaunsari Tribe, Uttarakhand; Dhemsa Dance of Tamang Tribe, Maharashtra; Damphu Dance of Tamang Tribe, Sikkim, Fly Dance of Rongmei/ Kabui Tribe Shim Laam, Karma Dance of Oraon Tribe, Odisha; Dungardev Dance of Kunbi Tribe, Gujarat; and Barat Mishwa Dance of Tiwa Tribe, Assam.

Among others, Makaranda Muduli, MLA, Rayagada; Naval Jit Kapoor, Joint Secretary, Union Ministry of Tribal Affairs; Ranjana Chopra, Principal Secretary and Guha Punam Tapas Kumar, Director (ST), ST & SC Development Department, and Prof (Dr) A B Ota, Director & Special Secretary, SCSTRTI and other Officials of ST & SC Development Department, SCSTRTI & ATLC were present.