Bangladesh
Sacred dances in Bangladesh are deeply rooted in the country’s rich cultural and religious
traditions. These dances are often performed as part of spiritual rituals, festivals, and religious
ceremonies, particularly within Hindu and Buddhist communities.
One of the most prominent forms of sacred dance is the Manipuri dance, which originated in
the northeastern region and is practiced by the Manipuri ethnic group. It is characterized by
graceful, devotional movements and is often dedicated to Hindu deities like Krishna and
Radha. The dance is performed during festivals such as Raas Leela, symbolizing divine love
and devotion.In Buddhist communities, particularly among the Chakma, Marma, and other
indigenous peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, ritual dances are performed during religious
ceremonies like Buddha Purnima. These dances often involve symbolic gestures and
storytelling to express spiritual beliefs and convey teachings of the Buddha.
Overall, sacred dances in Bangladesh serve as a form of worship, storytelling, and cultural
preservation, blending spiritual significance with artistic expression. They play a vital role in
maintaining the spiritual heritage and communal identity of the groups who practice them.
List of Dances
Bizhu Dance Bangladesh
Dhunuchi Nritya Bangladesh
Maibi Jagoi Bangladesh
Manipuri Raas Leela Bangladesh
Sangrai Dance Bangladesh
Bizhu Dance
Bizhu dance is a dance performed by the Chakma people on their new year, Bizu and is one of the traditional dances of Chakma people.
The Bizhu dance is a group dance with participants aligning themselves in a square or circular pattern. The Chakmas dress up in their traditional attire when participating in it. It is thought to have originally been a devotional offering performed within the precincts of the
Chakmas’ temples. The dance is unlike other dance forms in that it is marked by abrupt pauses during its performance. In recent years it has enjoyed a surge in popularity owing to its appealing rhythm and easy tunes. Through the Bizhu dance, the Chakmas bid adieu to the departing year and usher in the new year.
Region : Chittagong Hill Tracts (primarily in Rangamati, Bandarban, and Khagrachari districts)
Ethnic group : Chakma
Spirituality : Theravada Buddhism
Dhunuchi Nritya
Dhunuchi Nritya or Dhunuchi Naach is a Bengali traditional dance. This devotional dance is performed during Hindu puja and aarti ceremonies in Bengal. The dance is seen performed during Durga Puja by devotees, mainly Bengali Hindus. This dance celebrates Goddess Durga’s victory over Mahishasura, which incorporates themes of victory and empowerment.
Dhunuchi Nritya is deeply associated with Durga Puja, which is traditionally performed by men. Women are now increasingly taking an active part in traditionally masculine dances.
The dance is usually performed during the last days of Durga Puja, especially between Ashtami and Dashami.
Region : across Bangladesh
Ethnic group : Bengali Hindus
Spirituality : Hindu
Maibi Jagoi (Dances of Lai Haraoba)
A ritual dance dedicated to Umang Lai, forest deities, as part of the traditional Sanamahism religion of the Meitei people. The dance is led by priestesses (Maibis), and it honors the gods through music, chants, and movement. Male dancers may perform alongside Maibis, often representing mythological or divine figures. Musicians play traditional instruments, including the pena and cymbals, to accompany the performances.
Region : Sylhet and northeastern districts
Ethnic group : Meitei
Spirituality : Sanamahism
Manipuri Raas Leela
A classical Vaishnavite dance-drama, originally from India’s Manipur, embraced by the Meitei and Bishnupriya communities in Bangladesh. It focuses on Radha‑Krishna’s divine love and is traditionally performed on full-moon nights during festivals like Maha Raas, Basanta Raas, Kunja Raas, Divya/Nitya Raas. Characterized by graceful, flowing body movements with emphasis on upper body and hand gestures, sung verses drawn from Vaishnavite Padavalis. The dancers wear traditional
“Kumil” barrel‑shaped skirts, light muslin veils, and ornate jewelry.. The dance is a devotional offering (bhakti), symbolizing spiritual love (rasa) between jivatma and paramatma. Narrators (sutradharis) guide the drama; performers are mainly young children as Krishna/Radha and women as gopis. Local Manipuri communities in Sylhet and Moulvibazar have kept the tradition alive for centuries. In the early 20th century, Rabindranath Tagore encountered it in Sylhet and later introduced it at Shantiniketan, amplifying its prominence.
Region : Moulvibazar, Sylhet district
Ethnic group : Meitei and Bishnupriya communities
Spirituality : Vaishnavism, Hinduism
Sangrai Dance
The Sangrai dance is a traditional Indian dance performed by the Marma community on the occasion of the Sangrai festival during the month of April (Chaitra in the Bengali calendar year). The Marmas are one of the 19 tribes in Tripura. This dance originated in Tripura. On 26 January 2018, on India’s Republic day, Rajpath witnessed for the first time a traditional dance of the Mog tribe of Tripura, the land of plentiful myths and legends. Sangrai dance is characterized by vibrant movements and communal participation. A significant ritual during Sangrai is the water festival, where participants splash water on each other, symbolizing the washing away of sins and welcoming the new year with purity.
Region : Chittagong Hill Tracts (notably in Bandarban)
Ethnic group : Marma
Spirituality : Theravada buddhism