The Chaitra festival dance<\/strong> is another famous dance of the Gonds of Bastar district; it is performed after the harvest to thank goddess Annapurna<\/strong> for the harvest already gathered and to seek her blessings for the next crop. Men and women dance in a circle, in semi-circles or in rows; all dancers hold each other’s waist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A peacock feather on the head is a distinctive mark and the dancers wear colourful costumes, adorning themselves with garlands of shells and pearls. As the dancers go round in rhythmic movements, their feet beat to the music of the Shehnai, Nagada, Timki, Tapri, Dholak and Maduri<\/strong>. Sometimes, the Singha and Kohuk; wind instruments are also played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rina<\/strong> is the women’s dance. It is called Tapadi among the Baigas. The Gond women of Mandla district start the Rina just after the festival of Diwali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Chaitra fair held at\u00a0Biaora (Malwa)<\/strong>, the Dhup Dehi ka Mela of Hirapur (Rewa Division), the Ram Navami fair of Naya Gaon, the Bhilat Baba ka Mela of Seoni and the Gal Yatras held at over two dozen villages of Malwa are worth mention.<\/p>\n\n\n\nImage Gallery of Music and Dance in Madhya Pradesh- Chaitra festival dance<\/h2>\n\n\n