At a Glance :

Region : South Orissa's villages

Major Festival : Thankurani Yatra

Essential Observation Places : Ganjam district

The Animal dance of Orissa state is very much popular within its state. It has obtain large popularity from the numbers of year because its uniqueness. This dance form of Orissa is weird but it is also interesting, which contains dancers with animal masks. This is common within the rural area of Orissa state. Majorly in the district called Ganjam, Animal mask dance is practiced, when idols of deities are taken out in lanes of villages, while Thankurani Yatra.

The dancers of the animal mask dance are also performing the dance in the occasion of marriage. The 2 persons fit themselves inside the cane camouflage and frame with respect of animals. Male's leg part has been adorned as it looks like animal's legs. The 3 major animal masks have been used by the dancers are bull, tiger and horse as per the dance. This is unusual dance form for the tourist like you; because in our daily life people don't get to enjoy this kind of dance form in the Cities areas. So during your trip of Orissa, you are going to get golden opportunity to capture the whole performance of the animal mask dance in the eyes.