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August 9 is celebrated as World Tribal Day.

New Delhi: During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Andhra Pradesh, the traditional Dhimsa dance of the tribal community was performed on a massive scale. More than 13,000 tribal women and schoolgirls took part in the performance, with speculations rife that it may even earn a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. This large assembly of artists was not organised for an event focused on tribal issues, but rather for the inauguration of an international airport close to Visakhapatnam.

Showcasing tribal art and culture at government events is not a recent phenomenon. However, this trend has seen significant growth in the past few years. Tribal folk dances have become an almost mandatory feature of election rallies, official ceremonies, visits by the prime minister and ministers, as well as major political events.

The Gaur, Madar, and Rela dances of Chhattisgarh; the Jhumar and Paika of Jharkhand; the Dhimsa of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha; Santhal dances; traditional dances from the Northeast; and various tribal folk dances from Central India often serve as the opening performances for significant political events. However, a recurring question emerges: Is tribal culture being honoured within its social and historical context, or is it merely being exploited as an ‘exotic’ spectacle to entertain ‘others’?

The straightforward answer is that the presentation of tribal dances in front of government officials and ministers is directly associated with a colonial mentality.

In the British colonial period, tribal communities were perceived as distinct from the ‘mainstream’— regarded as primitive and mere ‘curiosities.’ Their attire and artistic expressions were displayed akin to an ‘exhibition.’ Even in contemporary times, the practice of having thousands of tribal individuals don uniform costumes to greet ministers and VIPs at major government events is merely an extension of that colonial mindset. This phenomenon is less about cultural representation and more about serving as entertainment for the ruling class.

Artists performing the Dhimsa dance during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Andhra Pradesh. Photo: PTI.

The Dhimsa dance is integral to the community identity of tribal groups – specifically the Bhagata, Kondh, Valmiki, Porja, and others – who inhabit the Alluri Sitarama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam districts of Andhra Pradesh as well as the neighbouring tribal regions, and the Malkangiri and Koraput districts of Odisha. This dance transcends mere entertainment; it serves as a profound cultural expression intricately linked to their........

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