Jhumur dance is a traditional dance of tea tribe communities of Assam. The dance is usually performed during Autumn season in assam. This dance is also found in few parts of West Bengal. This dance is performed by young girls mostly in an open area like field or under tree. The girls performed this dance is acconpanied by male members to maintain the rhythm and vocals and playing musical instruments.
The dance is performed to the rhythmic accompaniment of the Madal. The costume worn by the Jhumur dancers is different from the other traditional costumes. The male members wear long traditional dresses and keep the rhythm with few traditional instruments: generally a drum, hung on shoulder; a flute and a pair of "Taal" . The girls mostly perform the dancing part, holding each other's waist and movnig hands and legs forward and backward synchronously. This dance incorporates songs and dialogues, which depict the joys and sorrows, yearning and aspirations of the everyday lives of the common people.
Sometimes this dance is performed as a ritual worship or sometimes for courting and lovemaking and sometimes for prayer for rainfall by the tea tribe communities of Assam. It is believed that Jhumur was originally a means of recreation between phases of tedious agricultural work.
