Sua: An art form reflecting women's grief

'Sua' or Parrot dance is a tribal art form based on the feelings of the women who miss their husbands while they were away from home. Soon after 'Sharad Purnima' unmarried girls perform 'Sua' to get a husband of their dream.

Raipur (Chhattisgarh): The ninth-largest state of the country, Chhattisgarh, has a diverse culture. This culture is an amalgamation of tradition, which reflects the rich culture of the tribal community.

Tribals of Raipur has a popular art form called 'Sua'. It is also called 'Parrot Dance' as 'Sua' denotes parrot in many tribal dialects.

Soon after 'Sharad Purnima', Chhattishgarhi women, especially the women residing in rural areas, tie a wooden statue of 'Sua' or a parrot on a stick and dance to the magical rhythm of Sua.

The 'sua' songs are mainly based on the feelings of the women who miss their husbands while they were away from home. However, the unmarried girls also perform this dance to get a husband of their dream.

Earlier, the tribal women used to share their feelings with their pet parrots which gradually turned into a ritual.