Meghalaya Dance and Music

Doregata Dance

Doregata Dance is aninteresting dance in which while dancing the women try to knock off the turbansof their male partner using their head. If the women succeed, it is followed bypeals of laughter.

Chambil Mesara or Pomelo Dance

The Chambil Mesara orPomelo Dance is a solo dance-form which requires skill. The performer hang downfrom a pomelo on a cord tied to his waist and then throws it around without anyperceptible movement of the hips. The dancers who are expert in this can throwtwo separate fruits which are hanging on the cord.

Lahoo Dance

The Lahoo Dance isperformed by both male and female for entertainment.
The people are dressed intheir best dresses. In the Lahoo dance usually two young men on either side ofa woman, hold arms while dancing. In place of the usual drum and pipe, a cheerleader, usually a man gifted with the talent of unplanned recitation, recitescouplets to the merriment of the audience.

Music

The Garos generally sing folk songs relating to birth, marriage, festivals, love and heroic deeds. The songs are sung on the music of drums and flutes.

The Khasis and Jaintias are particularly fond of songs which praise the nature like lakes, waterfalls, hills etc. and also express love for their land. They use different types of musical instruments like drums, duitara and instruments similar to guitar, flutes, pipes and cymbals.