Dhimsa — quick questions

Short answers to the questions people actually ask — each linking to the full page.

What is Dhimsa?

A traditional circle dance of the hill tribes of the Araku Valley region: dancers link arms in a chain and move to drum rhythms. The name is usually explained as the sound of dancing footsteps. More →

Which state is it from?

Andhra Pradesh is its modern home — especially the Araku Valley — with origins traced across the border in Odisha's Koraput hills. More →

Who dances it?

Communities including the Porja, Bagata, Valmiki, Khond, Kotia, Gadaba and Kondadora — mainly women, with men joining several varieties. More →

How many varieties are there?

Traditionally twelve — Boda, Gunderi (Usku), Goddi Beta, Bhag, Natikari, Pedda and others; lists vary. More →

What instruments are used?

Tudumu and dappu drums, the mori horn, kiridi and gilka, plus call-and-response song. More →

What was the Guinness record?

~13,000 schoolgirls dancing Dhimsa at Bhogapuram on 1 August 2026 for the new airport's inauguration — the largest Dhimsa performance ever. More →

Where can I see it?

Araku Valley: the coffee museum's daily evening show, the tribal museum, and village festivals in March–April. More →

Common questions

Which state is Dhimsa from?

It is most associated with Andhra Pradesh (the Araku Valley and the agency areas of Alluri Sitarama Raju district), though its origins are traced to the Koraput hills of Odisha and it is danced on both sides of the border.

Who performs Dhimsa?

Hill tribal communities including the Porja, Bagata, Valmiki, Khond, Kotia, Gadaba, Kondadora and neighbouring tribes. It is danced mainly by women, with men joining in several varieties.

How many types of Dhimsa are there?

Tradition counts twelve varieties, including Boda Dhimsa (for the village deity), Gunderi or Usku Dhimsa (a playful men-and-women dance with peacock feathers), Goddi Beta, Bhag Dhimsa (enacting escape from a tiger) and Natikari Dhimsa (a solo form). Lists vary between villages and sources.

What instruments accompany Dhimsa?

Percussion and horn: the tudumu (large drum), dappu (flat frame drum), the mori horn, and smaller instruments such as the kiridi and gilka, with call-and-response singing in many varieties.

What is the Dhimsa Guinness World Record?

On 1 August 2026, around 13,000 tribal schoolgirls from ITDA schools performed Dhimsa together at Bhogapuram, Andhra Pradesh, at the inauguration of the Alluri Sitarama Raju International Airport attended by PM Narendra Modi. Guinness World Records certified it as the largest Dhimsa dance performance.

Where can visitors see Dhimsa performed?

In the Araku Valley: the coffee museum in Araku is known for a daily evening Dhimsa performance, the Araku Tribal Museum stages cultural shows, and village festivals — especially in March and April — are where the dance is most authentic.

Last updated: 2026-08-13