Chaitra is a festival dance performed among the
Gonds of
Bastar District. It is conducted to thank goddess Annapurna for the harvest already collected and to seek the blessings for the next crop.
The dance starts by making a circle, semi-circle or a row by both men and women holding each other’s waist. They adorn a peacock feather on the head and wear colorful costumes with garlands of shells and pearls. They make their steps according to the tune of the musical instruments. Commonly used instruments are Shehnai, Nagada, Timki, Tapri, Dholak and Maduri. The wind instruments sush as Singha and Kohuk are also played.
