Maunia folk dancers of Bundelkhand leave audience mesmerized

People in Uttar Pradesh's Bundelkhand region on Sunday witnessed and performed the most popular folk dance 'Maunia'. This dance in Bundelkhand is performed every year during the Deepawali at the end of October or first week of November according to the lunar calendar. The male dancers with long sticks were seen showing the martial arts as the beats of drums inspire their energy and emotions. This dance is also performed as a ‘thanksgiving’ after harvesting. In this connection, the epic story goes that “in Gokul” when Lord Krishna raised Goverdhan Parvat on his finger to save the local people, they danced in joy. The dancers wore multi-coloured apparels and the chief dancer held the peacock feathers in his hands and the rest stick those feathers in their half pants. The main instruments used in this dance are ‘Dholak’ and ‘Nagaria’ (both being a form of drums). It was a wonderful performance by the dancers leaving the audience mesmerized. Speaking to ETV Bharat, a dance performer said," Maunia or Diwari pai danda, the folk dance form from the Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh has been through this. This dance form traces its origin to the life and times of Krishna. It is said that when Krishna lifted Govardhan mountain on his finger to protect people from the wrath of a heavy downpour, people danced in joy. Besides other objects and props, the performers also hold peacock feathers referring to Krishna."