Natua

Natua of Bihar is a dance form extremely popular among the various tribal groups of South Bihar. These dances are intrinsically connected to the ritualistic celebrations of tribal lives. There are two dominant forms of Bihar's Natua dance. They are, in either form, performed predominantly by men. One form is primarily tribal and is held in the form of a carnival in village fairs, involving great risks and excitement. The second is a more quiet form and deals with the love of Radha and Krishna.

The first form more truthfully maintains the subaltern nature of Natua dance in Bihar. The village fairs organized around various events of religious significance are the main sites for the performance of the Natua dance. Bihar's Natua dance draws great many crowds because of the extremely daring maneuvers undertaken by the performers. The spirits are high and charged with energy and tension. The beating of the drums encourage the performers to go forward with the various traditional games. That may include piercing of bodies, walking on fire and the likes. The carnival nature dominates the rituals and the celebration. The dances are typically performed by the tribals and the members of the lower class.

The second form of the Natua in Bihar is more serene in nature. There is a strong element of Hindu influences in this form of the Natua dance. This dance can be a solo performance and can also take the form of a duet. It has its roots in the spread of the Bhakti cult in Bihar. The dances tenderly reveal the various moods and events in the lives of Krishna and his divine love for Radha. This dance is also extremely popular among the tribal folks of South Bihar.