Medari Dance is an interesting dance form and a performance art of the Tharus in Nepal. This not only constitutes an art but contains within it a cultural display of a certain tribal people’s folklore, history, and landscape. It is unlike any other dance in that it is characterized by the energetic styles, soft beats, and swift footwork—the Medari Dance offers a glimpse of the rich Tharu culture. In this way, it also helps connect people, providing an outlet for cultural enjoyment and appreciation.
History and Meaning of Medari Dance
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Medari dance can be found mostly in the Terai region of Nepal, in which the Tharu people are located. This dance was performed during a happy occasion where people were enjoying themselves. Nowadays, this dance is frequently observed in religious events, harvest festivals, as well as special events where messages of togetherness, abundance, and respect for the environment are conveyed. As an agrarian community, the Tharu people fit the Medari Dance in their worship for their almighty land. They do the dance to appreciate the end of one farming season and the beginning of another and also to thank the gods they worship for taking care of the crops and their everyday survival.
The dance performance and its unique elements
Image source: IStockPhoto
Energetic motions and accurate steps are the main components of the Medari dance. The dancers wear traditional Tharu dress that comprises vivid colored attire, beaded necklaces, and head scarves. The composition includes the participation of both genders, who beautifully execute their artistic skills with dance and rhythmic clapping.
The choreography is generally accompanied by music produced by the playing of the traditional Tharu instruments, for example, the madal, jhyali, and bansuri. The rhythms are fast enough to allow the dancers to move in rhythmic circular shapes, which symbolize order and interrelation. The dancers often render songs in praise of love, bravery, and the day-to-day struggles of life. It makes it easier for the audience to feel the Tharu culture more.
Where to Watch the Medari Dance
For anyone wanting to experience the Medari Dance live, there are many annual festivals and gatherings held in the Terai region of Nepal that feature this traditional dance. The tourists are encouraged to come and watch, or even take part in the Tharu dance, during important events like Maghi, which is the Tharu New Year, and also during Dashain. In fact, it is quite interesting to watch the Medari Dance, as it helps to appreciate the Tharu community and its very much alive traditions.
The Medari Dance as a Cultural Bridge
The Medari Dance is one of the major cultural assets of the Tharu people. It tells the essence and the history of a people who, despite the changing circumstances and environment, have managed to maintain their individuality and distinctiveness. Within the multicultural context of Nepal, where it is gaining more and more popularity, Medari dance occupies a position determined by temporality—the present unites the past with the future. It showcases the richness of Tharu culture. In that sense, every culture-loving person inclined to observe the kaleidoscope of Nepal poses structures at least once a Medari dance performance. It embodies the likeness of beauty, brotherhood, and the commitment of the Tharu essence.
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