Dance in Andaman Islands

In India, almost every region has its own culture and tradition of folk dances. They are an important part of the social life of these regions. The folk dances reflect the feeling of community and camaraderie. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands consists of the indigenous tribes. They are the original inhabitants of these islands. Dances of Andaman & Nicobar represent the distinct tribal culture of the islands. Nicobarese dance is one the most important traditional dances of Andaman & Nicobar. It is practiced by the Nicobarese tribe, who live in the Car Nicobar Island.

The Nicobarese tribes constitute the larger proportion of the tribal population of the Nicobar islands. Besides the Nicobarese tribe, the Nicobar islands are also home to the Shompen tribe, which is a semi-nomadic tribe living in certain regions of the Great Nicobar Island. The Nicobarese dance is presented by the Nicobarese tribes, living in the island of Car Nicobar.

One can witness the Nicobarese dance during the Ossuary Feast, which is more commonly known as the Pig Festival. This dance is a way of expressing one's dedication to the departed head of the family. The performance is presented in the full moonlight, under the swinging palm trees. It is a circular dance presented near the house. The dancers are dressed in coconut leaves. They step gracefully to the rhythm of the traditional songs. The leader has a monotonous concerted sound. The participants step left and right according to the leader's direction. They jump in unison and come down on both heels. The dance is accompanied by the popular musical instrument, guitar. There is a feast after the performance. In the following morning, there is a pig fight.