Naga dance performed in Haripur of Puri district, watch
In this dance form, the dancer wears a giant head gear called ‘Nagaa’ and goes on dancing on the road during the ‘Grama Parikrama’, the divine procession in the village
The Naga dance is performed in Haripur village under the Puri district of Odisha on the occasion of the Bhanuri Jatra of Lord Gopinath Dev, the prime deity of the village. In this dance form, the dancer wears a giant headgear called ‘Nagaa’ and goes on dancing on the road during the ‘Grama Parikrama’, the divine procession in the village.
The Haripur village of Puri district is situated on the bank of river Bhargabi. The prime deity of the village is Gopinath Dev. The second Gajapati of Puri Purusottam Dev had built this temple year ago. This temple has also rituals similar to Srimandira, the famous Lord Jagannath temple of Puri.
The morning rituals of Lord Gopinath Dev include Surya Puja (worship of the Sun God), Dwarapala Puja, Madhyanna Khechudi and Alati dhupa in the evening akin to the Puri temple. Different festivals of the God are organised across the year. Lord Gopinath Dev wears different attires such as Natabara Besha, Pushpa Besha, Gaja Uddharana Besha, Chandana Besha and Bhanuri Besha.
The 21 days long Chandana Jatra of Lord Gopinath Dev begins on the Akshay Trutiya day in the month of Baisakha. This jatra is done so as to get rid of the scorching sunlight and heat waves.
On the Akshay Trutiya day, the God is taken in a procession from the temple and placed on the boat. During the Chandan Jatra, the chapa khela of God is performed amid the performance of the Gotipua dance.
After twenty-one days on the Bhanuri Jatra the idol is established on a palanquin and taken on the grama parikrama, the village tour in a procession when youths wear the Naga on the head and perform the dance. This year also the Naga dance was performed while everybody enjoyed the procession.
The weight of the Naga is more than a quintal more than 100 kg. They wear it on the head and dance. During God’s village tour, the dance is performed. Besides, dances by Kinnars and the Puri Sahi jata are also seen. A large number of people crowd the village to witness these colourful happenings.
The Naga dance of Haripur is a perfect example of the rich Odishan culture. Even in this modern age people of this village have not forgotten their rich culture and traditional dance.
Kalinga AI