The Laho dance is a colorful and joyful traditional dance from the Pnar tribe of Meghalaya, a state in Northeast India. It plays an important role in the social and cultural life of the community. This dance is more than just a performance. It reflects the values, beliefs, and way of life of the people who perform it.
Laho dance is often performed during festivals, weddings, and other celebrations. It brings people together, helps them express happiness, and shows the strength of community bonds. Through this article, we will learn about the roots of this dance, its meaning, and its connection with culture, language, nature, and daily life.
Historical Roots: Where the Dance Comes From
The Pnar community, also known as the Jaiñtia people, live mainly in the Jaiñtia Hills region of Meghalaya. They are one of the major tribes in the state and are known for their rich culture, matrilineal society, and love for music and dance.
Laho dance has been part of their tradition for hundreds of years. It is believed to have started as a social and courtship dance, where young men and women could interact freely in a respectful way. Over time, it became a central part of many festivals and important community events.
In the past, it was not performed on a stage. Instead, it took place in open village grounds, where everyone could join or watch. Today, it continues to be performed during major festivals, helping to preserve the identity and history of the Pnar people.
Language and Communication Through Dance
Although the dance itself is not always accompanied by words or singing, it still serves as a form of non-verbal communication. The dancers express joy, friendship, and community spirit through their movements, gestures, and facial expressions.
Sometimes, traditional songs in the Pnar language are sung in the background. These songs often talk about nature, seasons, love, and life in the village. The music and dance together create a rich form of communication that speaks without using words.
This shows how art can carry meaning even when language is not spoken. It allows people of different ages and even outsiders to understand the feeling and message behind the performance.
Festivals and Celebrations: The Heart of Laho
Laho dance is commonly seen during festivals like Behdeinkhlam, Chad Sukra, and other local celebrations. These are not just religious events—they are also times when the whole community comes together.
During these festivals, people wear their finest clothes, prepare special foods, decorate their homes, and gather to dance, sing, and celebrate. The Laho dance becomes the center of attention, symbolizing joy, freedom, and cultural pride.
In many cases, the dance takes place in the evening or at night, under the open sky, with music and cheering from the crowd. The sound of drums and bamboo instruments fills the air, making the whole environment lively and festive.
Art, Craft, and Music: A Creative Expression
The Laho dance is closely connected with traditional music. Musicians play local instruments like drums (ka bom), flutes (ka tangmuri), bamboo clappers, and stringed instruments. These instruments create a rhythmic beat that guides the dancers’ movements.
The dancers wear handcrafted costumes and jewelry that reflect the local style and materials. Women wear bright-colored dresses called jainsems, with intricate beadwork and silver jewelry. Men often wear dhotis and turbans, giving the dance a formal and graceful look.
All of this—the music, the costume, the movement—comes together as a form of living art. It is not performed for fame or money but for cultural pride and community joy.
Cuisine and Culinary Traditions During Celebrations
Festivals and dances like Laho are often followed by community feasts. Food is a way of celebrating togetherness. During such events, families prepare special dishes that are shared with friends, relatives, and even visitors.
Some popular foods include:
- Jadoh – rice cooked with meat and spices
- Dohneiiong – pork cooked with black sesame
- Tungrymbai – a fermented soybean dish
- Pumaloi – steamed rice cakes
The feast is not just about eating—it’s about sharing, bonding, and making memories. Just like the dance, food helps to bring people together and keep traditions alive.
Attire and Ornamentation: Traditional Clothing in Dance
During the Laho dance, both men and women wear traditional attire that reflects their culture and identity. Women wear the jainsem, a long cloth draped around the body, often with a blouse and decorative shawl. They also wear silver or beaded necklaces, bangles, and earrings.
Men wear a dhoti, a type of cloth wrapped around the waist, along with a turban. Sometimes, they also wear sleeveless vests or jackets. The clothes are usually made from locally woven fabrics, and the colors are bright and cheerful.
The ornamentation is not just for beauty—it also represents the tribal identity and social status of the dancers.
Beliefs and Values: What the Dance Represents
The Laho dance reflects many deep values of the Pnar community. One of the most visible ideas is gender equality. The dance is usually performed by two men and one woman, or vice versa, showing balance and mutual respect.
Unlike many traditional forms where roles are fixed, Laho dance allows freedom of movement, interaction, and laughter. It encourages friendship, respect, and social bonding.
It also shows the value of community life. Everyone, young or old, gets a chance to participate, watch, or enjoy the celebration. This inclusiveness is central to the meaning of the dance.
Customs and Etiquette in the Performance
Even though the Laho dance has playful and fun elements, there are clear rules and customs. The movements are graceful and controlled, avoiding anything that could be seen as disrespectful.
Men and women hold hands or place hands on each other’s shoulders, but always in a way that reflects mutual respect. Loud behavior or overly aggressive movements are avoided. The dance is a symbol of decency, grace, and tradition.
Architecture and Symbols: The Setting for Celebration
Laho dance is usually performed in open spaces, such as village squares or near sacred groves. These spaces are decorated with bamboo structures, tribal flags, flowers, and natural elements.
The dance itself becomes a symbol of life—circular movements represent unity and continuity, while the rhythm shows harmony with the earth. Traditional symbols and motifs used in decoration reflect the tribe’s spiritual and cultural beliefs.
Oral Traditions and Storytelling Through Dance
Like many tribal communities, the Pnar people have a rich tradition of oral storytelling. Elders pass on myths, folktales, and life lessons through speech, songs, and dance.
Laho dance carries this tradition forward. While it may not tell a single story, its rhythmic patterns, group formations, and facial expressions echo ancient storytelling methods. It’s a way of teaching values, celebrating love and life, and preserving memories.
Interactions with Nature: A Dance Close to the Earth
Meghalaya is known for its hills, forests, rivers, and rains. The people here live in close connection with nature, and this is reflected in their dance.
The instruments used in the Laho dance are often made from bamboo and natural materials. The open-air performance under the sky, surrounded by trees, connects the dancers with the natural world.
This connection with nature reminds us that traditional cultures often carry deep knowledge about sustainable living and environmental respect.
Challenges and the Need for Preservation
In today’s fast-changing world, traditional dances like Laho face several challenges. Modern entertainment, migration, and lack of interest among youth have led to a decline in participation.
However, many communities are now reviving the tradition through:
- School cultural programs
- Local dance workshops
- Cultural festivals and events
- Video documentation and research
These efforts help preserve the Laho dance and pass it on to future generations.
What Has Laho Dance Contributed to the World?
The Laho dance is not just important for the Pnar people. It also adds value to the larger cultural landscape of India and the world.
It teaches lessons about:
- Gender equality in tradition
- Community joy through dance
- Cultural pride and identity
- Sustainable art forms rooted in nature
By being performed at cultural events outside Meghalaya, Laho dance helps promote Northeast Indian heritage and encourages diversity and inclusion in global cultural spaces.
Laho Dance and the Spirit of Northeast India
Northeast India is home to hundreds of tribal communities, each with unique languages, customs, and dances. The Laho dance is a shining example of how these communities use art to express identity, celebrate life, and bring people together.
Understanding dances like Laho helps us appreciate the diversity and richness of Indian culture. It also shows that tradition is not something old or forgotten—it is something alive, joyful, and meaningful.
Final Thoughts: Keeping the Dance Alive
The Laho dance is a celebration of who the Pnar people are—their love for music, respect for each other, and strong sense of community. By learning about and respecting this tradition, we help keep it alive.
As long as people gather to celebrate festivals, sing songs, share meals, and dance together, the spirit of the Laho dance will never fade.
