Chaiti Ghoda Dance, also known as Horse Dance, is related with the
Shakti cult of coastal
Orissa. This folk item is mastered by the people of Kaibarta caste only. It is performed in the month of Chaitra, from the full moon day to the eighth day of Vaisakha, in honor of their caste deity Vasuli Devi – regarded as one of the incarnations of
Goddess Durga and one of sixty-four Yoginis.
In this dance a man dressed in the form of a horse, dances to the tunes of Dhole and Mahuri, accompanied by songs composed by local poets. The songs generally depict the episodes from mythology. The performing group consists of three main characters- Rauta, Rautani and the Horse dancer, besides the drummer and the piper. This old dance form is very popular in the region and consistently attracts a large audience.
