Loor dance turns out to be major attraction of Ratnawali at KU

The Haryanvi Loor dance, revived by the Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs, Kurukshetra University, has turned out to be one of the major attractions of the state-level Ratnawali festival within a couple of years of its introduction in the festival.

The Director of the Public Relations Department of Kurukshetra University, Dr Maha Singh Poonia, who documented the Loor dance by visiting villages across Haryana, said, “The Loor, a forgotten dance form of Haryana,  was revived by the department. In 2022, the Loor dance was presented at the Ratnawali festival, then in 2023 it became part of youth festivals and Ratnawali and this year it was one of the main attractions. It has gained popularity among the youth and it was among the main performances on the opening of the festival. The teams have demonstrated the cultural significance of this folk art. This year, the Loor dance also features as a competitive event in Ratnawali.”

The Loor dance, originating from the Bangar region of Haryana, is performed by girls, known as "Loor," during the month of Phagun, just before Holi. Traditionally, this dance has been an all-female performance, with men not permitted to watch. The Loor dance captures the essence of spring nights in Phagun through a vibrant women’s folk drama.

“In the Loor dance, two groups of girls face each other, while asking and answering questions through song. In 2022, Kurukshetra University's Department of Youth and Cultural Affairs organised a workshop to provide detailed training on the dance, including its steps and traditional folk songs. Through a workshop at the university, dance experts and cultural programme leaders from across Haryana gathered to discuss the nuances of the dance. Elderly women shared their knowledge and videos of their performances were recorded to set a format for the coming generations”, he said.

The director said the university had been making sincere efforts for the revival of the old dance forms, dying folk arts and cultures by organising workshops and introducing the same in the youth festivals and Ratnawali. The presentation of Loor dance was given at Haryana Raj Bhawan, Chandigarh, and it received much appreciation. The prime objective was to revive the forgotten dance forms and connect the younger generation with these art forms. We want to make people see these dying art forms at the national and international levels. He also mentioned that the university has played a pivotal role in reviving Haryanvi dance forms Rasia too.

Meanwhile, the Director, DYCA, Prof Vivek Chawla, said in Loor dance, a confluence of both dance and acting was displayed. Ratnawali festival has been playing a major role in the reviving and preserving the Haryanvi culture, dance forms, cuisines and art.