Parab

The Raja Murias living in the Bastar district of Madhya Pradesh perform the Parab dance after the harvesting of Khatif crops. It is also performed during the bright fortnight of the month of Chaitra. A branch of th Semal tree is brought and planted at the central place of the village. Only unmarried boys and girls perform this dance round the Semal branch celebrating the harvest festival. Groups of dancers exchange visits and the dancing goes on throughout the night. The dancers wear clothes of bright colors and decorate themselves with laces and strands of cowries. While the percussion music is provided by a double faced drum, the melodic, by Mahuri, a reeded wind instrument like Shehnai.