Jhumur is a folk dance of the tea tribal communities of Assam. Performed during the harvest season and festivals, the principal dancers are girls, while the male performers maintain the music, vocals, and instruments. This dance form is also embraced in West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand.
Jhumur dance is mainly performed at festivals like Karam puja and Tushu puja, the most important festivals for the tea tribes. The celebrations last a week, and people stay up late at night to celebrate and worship. The final day of the week is marked by cleaning and decorating the houses to welcome God and perform the Jhumur dance in celebration of God's arrival.
The Juhumur dance depicts the joy and sorrow of everyday life. Female dancers gather in groups, hold each other side by side by their waists, and move their legs and body forward and backward in a swaying motion. The dancers partake in rhythmic dancing while male artists play simple musical instruments such as Madal, Dhol, Flute, Shehnai, Bansi (Flute), Dhak, and a pair of Taal.
