raibenshe
{{short description|Bengali folk dance}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
File:Murshidabad Day 1 Dance 5.jpg, Murshidabad during Murshidabad Heritage Festival 2023]]
Raibenshe ({{langx|bn|রায়বেঁশে}}), alternatively, Raibeshe ({{langx|bn|রায়বেশে}}), is a genre of Bengali folk martial dance performed by male only.{{cite book|last=Gupta|first=Shobhna|title=Dances of India|year=2002|publisher=Har-Anand Publications |isbn=81-241-0866-8|pages=71|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7KeAES9dsUcC&q=Raibenshe&pg=PA71|location=New Delhi}} This genre of dance was once very popular in West Bengal. Presently, it is performed mostly in Birbhum,{{cite book|last=Devi|first=Ragini |title=Dance Dialects of India|year=2002|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=81-208-0674-3|pages=195|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KRz5ykKRVAEC&q=Raibeshe&pg=PA195|location=Delhi}} Bardhaman and Murshidabad districts.
Dance
Traditionally, this dance involves vigorous and manly movements of the body along with the acrobatics of a raibansh (a long bamboo stick), from which its name originated.{{cite web|title=Raibenshe (Bengal)|url=http://indiaheritage.org/perform/folk_raibenshe.htm|publisher=India Heritage website|access-date=1 January 2011}} During the performance, the performers enact the actions of drawing a bow, throwing a spear and waving a sword. The performers wear a brass anklet (nupur) on their right ankle. This dance is accompanied by dhols (drums) and Kanshis (cymbals). This dance was traditionally performed by Bagdi community, who worked as the bodyguards of the landlords in medieval Bengal.
See also
References
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{{Culture of West Bengal}}
{{Bengali Hindu people}}
Category:Folk dances of West Bengal
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