In a first, ancient folk dance ‘Sinhtoo’ to be performed at R-Day parade in Delhi

Sinhtoo is a mask dance in which artists wear specially crafted masks of various animals and costumes for the performance. In the Pahari (hilly) dialect, a lion cub is called Sinhtoo, which is why performers wearing lion masks always take centre stage in the dance.

Sinhtoo,–which means a lion cub–is a mask dance in which artists wear specially crafted masks of various animals and costumes for the performance. (Express Image)

Renowned Sinhtoo folk artist Joginder Habbi said, “On January 2, we received confirmation about Sinhtoo’s selection for the Republic Day function. Initially, the selectors chose our famous folk dance ‘Natti’, but they also wanted something unique and fresh. I believe Sinhtoo will send a message about wildlife conservation and environmental protection. Currently, 500 artists from Himachal Pradesh are rehearsing in Delhi, out of which 200 are preparing for Sinhtoo.”

Describing costumes and masks, Habbi added, “In ancient times, sheep’s wool (locally called pattu) and tree bark were used for costumes, along with masks that covered the entire body, except for the face. Over time, these were replaced by woollen outfits and costumes made from torn pieces of cloth. The masks were crafted from wood, sawdust and kidney bean dough. Unfortunately, Sinhtoo is now on the verge of extinction.”

The Hatti community has been advocating for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Sirmaur since 1967. (Express Image)

However, Joginder Nath, a retired professor of sociology from Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, said, “There is always a theme behind the selection of folk performances for Republic Day and Independence Day celebrations in Delhi. Thousands of entries are received by the central government, but only a few are selected. I believe the government aims to highlight the culture of the Hatti community through Sinhtoo. This community has been advocating for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status in Sirmaur since 1967. The central government fulfilled this demand in 2023, and the state government also granted the ST status to the Hatti community in January 2024.”

Rakesh Kanwar, Secretary of Language, Art, and Culture, said, “Our famous folk-dance Natti, including Sirmauri Natti, Kinnauri Natti and others, is among the selected dances. However, Sinhtoo will be performed on Republic Day for the first time. This marks a significant milestone, as Sinhtoo, which is considered endangered, is now getting a chance to shine on the national stage.”