Dhamail Folk Dance

Bengali women performing Dhamail

‘Dhamail’ is a popular folk dance of  Barak Valley, which has its origin in Sylhet district of Bangladesh. Radha Raman Dutta (1833 - 1919) also known as Radha Romon Bhaibe Radha Romon was an influential Sylheti folk music composer and poet from the Sunamganj District  in Sylhet, Bangladesh. He is considered as the father of dhamail folk dance and music.

Dhamail dance is performed by a group of ladies who move in circle clapping their hands to the beat of the music. The song is sung by the group leader and then others join the chorus. The ladies wear saree in Bengali style while performing this dance form. The lyrics is mainly  related to Krishna and Radha.

This dance form is performed in almost every occasion. There are different lyrics of Dhamail songs for marriage, annaprashan and dol purnima, etc.  This  dance form do not include any other instruments apart from handclaps and sometimes ‘karatal’ is used.

Dhamail dance lost its importance and glamour a few years ago. But now it again regained its glory in a new way. Todays youngsters love to perform this dance in every occasion.