Inequality, Gender and Stigma: Understanding Launda Naach in Rural India

Launda naach is a unique and deeply embedded folk tradition originating from Bhojpuri-speaking regions of India, particularly in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The term ‘ launda ’ means a young boy in Bhojpuri and Hindi. Launda naach is performed by young men belonging to lower-caste and class groups, who wear women’s clothes for their performance. Historically, this dance form has been an essential part of community celebrations in this region, especially for weddings and festivals. It expresses stories of marginality and inequality, foregrounding women’s and migrants’ voices and unsettling hierarchies of gender, caste and class. With the Bahraich district of Uttar Pradesh in India as its site, this article critically comments on this rooted legacy of launda naach as a form of resistance against caste and class inequality in the context of not only the district but also the wider region of eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. The article also discusses the social stigmatisation faced by launda naach dancers due to their gender performativity.