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The Khampti Dance
The
Kamptis, who are Buddhists, have many dance-dramas through which they unfold
some stories or depict mythical events bearing ethical lessons. These dramas are
generally staged during the religious festivals of Potwah, Sankian or Khamsang,
constituting the entertainment part of the festivals.
The dance is called
ka and the dance-drama is called kapung (ka-dance; pung-story) and actually
means a story depicted through the dance. The rehearsal of a drama starts about
one month before a festival. This may be done in the monastery or in any house
of their choice. The well-to-do-villagers invite the
drama-party when the drama is staged in the front courtyard or in some suitable
open space near their house. Women do not take part in the drama. The female
role, if any, is played by a man in woman's costume. After the performances, the
party is given a remuneration of seven, fourteen, twenty-eight or forty-two
rupees-always an amount divisible by seven. They purchase with this money the
costumes and masks used in the dramas. The surpluses, if any, is shared by the
members of the drama party.
Ka Fifai Dance-Drama
The Ka Fifai drama is
woven round the theme of the traditional belief that ghosts appear and kidnap
girls or men and trouble them. The participants in the drama consist of a man,
his daughter who is kidnapped, the ghost who does the kidnapping, the Ministers
of the State who make preparations for war against the ghost, the King of the
stage in which the girl's father is a subject, and the king's men who go out to
capture the ghost.
The drama opens with
a man and his daughter walking in the garden. The ghost appears and captures the
girl, and immediately the man greatly aggrieved rushes to the king's court to
inform him of the incident and beseech him the rescue his daughter. The
king's anger is aroused at this news and he calls for his Ministers and asks
them to prepare for war. The King's men go in search of the ghost and bring him
before the king, who severely warns him never to do such a thing again. The
ghost frightened bows before the king and with this ends the drama.
Ponung Dance (Adis)
 Adi
village has a rich cultural life. The tribal people are famous for
their Ponung that is dancing with the accompaniment of songs. A
group of girls dance in a circle holding each other by stretching
their hands over each others shoulders while the leader-usually a man
called the Miri-dances and sings in the centre-holding aloft and shaking
a sword like musical instrument called 'Yoksha'. First he sings
a line and then it is repeated in chorus by the maidens rhythmically in
circle at a low pace. On all important occasions ponung is arranged.
SadinukTSo (Akas)
The Akas have a number of dances and songs for the different
socio-religious festivities. One of the well known dance among the Akas is
the Sadinuktso. A member from the boy's group comes forward, gives his performance for a short while and recedes. A
girl then comes and she also dances all alone. This relation goes on till all
the boys and girls of the group have danced. No song is sung with this dance.
It is generally performed in marriages, guest, entertainments or on the
construction of a new house.
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