Dansaye: The Rhythm of Resistance and Rejoicing in Santal Culture of Odisha

In the very centre of Odisha’s tribal belt, where the forests tell tales of forebears and the earth thumps out ancient tradition, the Dansaye dance of the Santal people is a living manifestation of cultural pride, shared memory, and community spirit. It is not merely a performance—it is protest, prayer, and celebration, all orchestrated into an over-whelming expression of indigenous identity.

The Santal tribe, which is the largest tribal community of eastern India, are located mainly in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, and Sundargarh districts. Their rich traditions comprise a colorful weave of music, oral tradition, and dance, one of which is Dansaye. It is a ceremonial dance played mainly at Parab, a celebration of spring’s arrival to follow winter and to pay respects to ancestors. It is a social dance that gets the whole village involved.

What makes Dansaye unique is its participatory nature. It’s not dancers on stage; it’s a moving community. Men and women create long, curved lines, stepping in rhythm in a winding snake shape, feet stamping to the sound of ancient drums such as the Tamak, Tumdak, and Banam. Their bright clothes—women in red-fringed phutri saris and men in white dhotis—twirl with each step, echoing the vibrant spirit of Santal society.

Dansaye is not only dance—it is history on the move. The steps chronicle stories of migration, survival, and struggle. Handed down in traditions from generation to generation, every performance is a re-telling of tribal myths, legends, and day-to-day life. By subtle movements and synchronised footwork, the Santals recount stories of forest life, hunting, agriculture, and even social problems.

This dance is also instrumental in the sustenance of Santali language and folklore. As the dancers sing together, the stanzas become vehicles of tribal knowledge and collective memory, reflecting a shared ethic of harmony, nature worship, and social solidarity.

In the past, Dansaye also served as a silent protest in protest against the colonialists, and subsequently, in acts of resistance against cultural erasure. When tribal voices were muted, their dances and music continued to be their loudest cry of identity.

Now, as the Santals struggle to cope with modern-day pressures—whether of migration, deprivation of forest rights, or socio-economic strife—Dansaye is a constant that refuses to let go. It reminds the people of their heritage, particularly during festive occasions, weddings, and social gatherings. NGOs and cultural activists have also made efforts to record and popularize the dance form so that it doesn’t get forgotten.

In a time when pop culture is fast erasing traditional art forms, Dansaye keeps us reminded of the strength of indigenous culture to unite communities and push back against cultural homogenization. Not only is it a dance but a statement: that the forest continues to sing, the ancestors continue to lead, and the Santal spirit continues to dance—powerful and unbroken.

The forest will change, but the rhythm persists. And as long as the drumbeats resound, the tale of the Santals will go on—one step at a time, in the dance of Dansaye.