FOLK DANCE OF NAYAGARH: -  

                        Dance either folk or classical is always accompanied with song and rhythm except in some exceptional forms of Mute categories like chau etc. Folk dance is always accompanied with folk song and folk musical instructions. Folk dances are performed by rural population to mitigate fatigue and wearies.  The rural population of Nayagarh District practise and perform so many  folk dances of different disciplines as mentioned below. 

KALESI  DANCE : - 

                        The villagers propitiate the village deities to protect them from different calamities and cattle diseases.  On the day of the puja, a person either a female or a male dressed as female represents the goddess and in  a mood of trance exhibits acrobatic movement of body.  She answers the questions of the  devotees on behalf of the goddess.  It is also called Mangala Nacha. It  is usually performed in almost all the areas of Nayagarh District. The generic name of Kaleshi is Shaman.

DINDA DHANGEDI DANCE:-

                        Dhangedi in Kui language means unmarried girl.  Dinda Dhangedi means grown up unmarried girl.  Like this Dinda hangadias are unmarried youths.  These unmarried maids and youths dance together to choose their life partners among themselves.  They dance and sing to the rhythms of tribal instruments under the spell of liquor.  Almost all the Kandha Villages of Nayagarh District, specially is Daspalla area, such dances are performed.  Now, modern culture has out-dated it.

MATIA DANCE : -

                        Matias are earth diggers and a south-Indian tribe.  In Nayagarh, they have a poor population.  They are nomadics.  They perform a sort of acrobatic dance imitating monkeys and wild beasts and producing unusual sounds and beg alms.  Munda puttas are cognates of the  Matias.  They burry their heads under the earth and beg alms from the public.  They show their performance in public places and festivals.  Modern civilization has killed  this traditional dance from.

DUBUDUBA DANCE : -

                        In Southern Odisha  Munda-Puttas Kelas are called Dubudubas.  In Nayagarh they are identified as monkey-dancers.  In other parts of Odisha, they are known as Mankada-diasi.  In western Odisha they are called Madaries.  

DALA MANKUDI: -

                        It is a seasonal dance.  In the summer season, the young boys clad with Jamu branches dance in groups holding frongs and visit the doors of different houses.  The purpose is to appeal the Rain-God for rain.  The house-wives, throw turmeric Waters to these dancing boys.  They roll on the grounds under scorching Sun.  It is a ritual dance.

PAIKA DANCE: -

                        It is a sort of acrobatic dance by the landed militia or soldiers of the kings.  The Kings are no more, but the heirs of the Paikas are there.  They imitate the war dance of their ancestors and dance during dasahara and other festive occasions.  Paika troops are there in Gotisahi,Kalyanpur,Bhadikia, Machhipada, Jamusahi, Gudu Pangi, Pandutar, Rohisahi, Haripur and some of the villages in Nayagarh.  There troops are also there in Ranpur, Daspalla and Khandapara areas.

KELA NACHA: -

                        The Kela community has different braches, like Matia, Mundapotta, Dubuduba, Mankidia, Chadaia etc.  A branch of this community perform acrobratic feats around a long bamboo firmly fixed to the ground.  This   game is very risky and dangerous.  It is still prevacant in Machhipada area of Nayagarh.

DHUDUKI NACHA: -

                        It is a very fascinating folk dance prevalent almost in all the parts of Odisha  Dhuduki is a rustic instrument with a string.  The main player sings chanting rythms with the string.  To his rythms dance two young boys dressed as females.  It is seen in Daspalla, Kandalaba, Nayagarh, Padmapur, Barabati, Darapada, Kestapada and Bhatasahi in Nayagarh District.

SANKIRTANA:-

                        This dance group gives performance in religious occasions.  The participants sing the glory of God.  Rama and Krishna.

DASKATHIA:-

                        This group consists of two artists, who sing and dance giving rythms to tab pieces of   wooden  sticks, less than one foot long.  Being originated in Ganjam it has spread to different parts of    Odisha It is  popular in the villages of Koshala.  Betanati, Dubapalli, Shalajharia, Khalisahi of Nayagarh District.

 PALLA: -       

                        It is another forms of folk music.  The participants are five. One Gahana, One Palia, two Shree Palias and one Bahaka.  It is seen in almost all the area of Nayagarh District.

 RASA: -

                        Rasa is a dance troop.  Pioneered by Late Govind Chandra Surdeo. The participants give performance relating to love between Radha and Krushna.  Important Rasa troops are seen at Kantilo, Sunakhala, Ranpur and Mayadharpur.

KALIYADALANA: -

                        It is a religious dance troop.  It consists of many artists.  The main actors are Srikrishna and Kali Naga.  The story is based  on the activities of young Srikrishna and his plucking of lotus flowers from the lake where the king cobra  resides.  It is a mythological story and very pleasing.Important kaliyadalan troops are found in Ranpur and lathipada.

RAMLILA: -

                        Ramalila dance troops are there in different forms of Nayagarh.  But, the Ramalila troops of Daspalla is very important  who go abroad to give performance. 

DUARI DANCE: -

                        It is a unique dance from based on many theological stories, like Subhadra Parinaya.  Killing of Gosing Dailya etc. Duari Dance Parties are seen in Nabaghanapur, Godipada, Godipalli, Mahulia, Kendupalli villages of Nayagarh District.

DANDA NACHA : -

                        Two  types danda dances are prevalent in Nayagarh District.  Danda and Udanda.  Dandia  is performed in the month of Chaitra, and Udanda in the month of Baisakha.Danda Nrutya, in Odisha is a popular form of religious folk dance (nrutya). Though the name is Nrutya or dance, it is basically observation of religious fast for a period of 21 days by devotees for fulfillment of certain cherished desire. The main God (Lord Siva) remains in form of a ever burning fire in a fire torch (Masal ) four in numbers. Two devotees carry two torch each from evening to the next day morning and theses torches are constantly poured with fire powder made from the latex of a local 'Sal' tree. The devotees remain sleepless during the night where Danda Dance (Nrutya) is performed before the Lord.Originated in Ganjam District of Odisha, it is observed all over the state.  Danda means punishment. Therefore the observation is marked by some rigorous practices. The devotees believe the more tough the practice more the fruit of accomplishment. The presiding deities are Siva and Kali or Parvati (wife of Lord Siva). The esoteric measures are very stringent in this religious observation. The three different form of Danda are Pani Danda, Dhuli Danda and Agni Danda. Dhuli Danda is very very painful, since it is observed on hot dusts under scorching sun in the month of Chaitra i.e. April & May. The devotees are called Bhagatas. One among them is called Pata Bhagata or Pata Dandua, who leads the group of devotees. The number of days of observation is always uneven, i.e. 7,9,11,13,19 or 21. Whatever may be the days of observation, the process will end with Mahabisuba Sankaranti.It is a unique culture in Odisha, which permits devotees of all the segment of Hindu society.  The entire period of observation the Bhagats belong to the family of Siva and Parvati. No Bhagata shaves his face or cut the hair.  but, shaves his face after the Danda observation is over. but, this is for the deity not for this family.Although the dance differs from area to area in presentation, but, remains the same in the basic principles. The Danda Nrutya at Nayagarh distirct of Odisha is slightly different from the Danda Nrutya of Ganjam. The Bagatas are divided into three categories, Pata Bhatas, Pata Dandua and Dagara. They have three specified religious function.On the day preceding Maha Bisuba Sankaranti one function takes place. Accordingly to custom the Pata Bahagata is hinged on an wooden bar with his head hanging down above a pit full of flaming fire. the face of the devotee remains unaffected by fire for this purity. On the next day, i.e on the day of Mahavisub Sankarnti, the fire walking ceremony takes place. According to the religious principles, the Bhagatas take a holy dip in a pond near the place of observation. Then they go to a Siva temple. After performing their 'Puja', they come to the place of worship called  Kamana Gruha. For fire-waking a ditch measuring 21" x 1" width and about 3" depth dug by two persons observing fasting and all possible purity. Then the priests fill the ditch with wood charcoals. They bring fire from the Again kunda and add to the Charcoals. Then they fan the coals to flame. Then the fire waking takes place with thousands of people watching this.The Bhagatas (participating devotees) make three rounds about the ditch in the village. Then the Pata Bhagata waves the the Prabha (the image of Kali) over the burning ditch begging holy influence from the Goddess. Then the Bhagatas including the Pata Bhagatas starting from one end proceed walking bare footed on the burning charcoal up to the other end by dipping dipping there feet in the milk at the other end. they worship Lord Siva and Parvati in the Kamana Gruha. Their feet remain unaffected by fire.  This proves the seer devotions of the fire-walkers due to the blessings of the deity

DHUMPA: -

                        Dumpa is another folk dance originated in Khandapara.  The pioneers of their dance form are the families of Pathani Samanta.  This dance has known national and international reputation.

Dhumpa originated from Ganjam district where Kabisuryabaladev Rath’s verses were sung .The king of Khandapara had patronage the song and instrument.Harihar Sing Mardaraj who always took a Dhumpa troupe along with him during picnics.

Dhumpa a hallow cylinder, six to seven feet long is the bark of: Bhendiamardan or Mayi tree. It is extracted from the tree’s trunk only in the rainy season. A troop performing Dhumpa comprises a Principal Singer, four or five chorus singers, six or eight Kathias or stick drummers, a pot-belled man and a Gotipua dancer. A typical performance begins with a verse rendered by the principal singer with accompanying instrument like Harmonium, Tabla, Flute, Vina and a Mardal. The one side of the trunk face towards the pot-belled man, which hags from above ropes are pulled down to strike his belly in perfect rhythm emitting a deep and sonorous sound and the Kathias are beating the trunk creates also sounds. This instrument called Dhumpa.

VEERAVADYA:-

                        It is a tribal dance from of Daspalla. Originally it is a dance of the Kandha community .It is famous in dasapalla and Khandapara.It is also known as Singhbaja.