The Pala Dance is performed during the major festive occasions in
Orissa. This dance form is associated with a sect called ‘Satyapir’, which is based on the principles of Lord Satyanarayana and the Muslim prophet Pir Mohammed. It is dedicated to Lord Satyanarayana.
Pala Dance consists of two types, the Baithaki (sitting) and the Thia (standing) which denotes the posture of the performers. It involves 6 artists, which includes a ’bayak’ (drummer) and ‘gayaka’ (lead singer). The performance starts with a prayer dedicated to Lord Satyanarayana. The songs sung during the performance are composed by the local poets. They are based on the Puranas and other epics. The singers sing along with the sounds of cymbals. The songs, sung in the local dialect, are filled with some elements of humor.
