Dev Nati is a traditional folk dance practiced in the Western and Central Hills of the Indian subcontinent.
It mainly originated from [Shimla, Mandi, Solan, Sirmaur, Kinnaur and Kullu] and became popular across the state and in Chandigarh where Himachali youth performed this on cultural programmes in colleges and universities.
Nati is performed on important occasions such as marriages and is very common during weddings and fairs in HIMACHAL PRADESH (H.P.)
This "traditional dance" essentially derives its roots from the state of Himachal Pradesh, and is also popular in the union territory of Chandigarh.
Furthermore, this folk dance is extremely popular in the "Himachali" region, and is performed frequently at various cultural programmes.
This "Himachali" dance form is said to be similar to the Raas Lila and is considered to have been developed in honour of Krishna and his "Gopis".
For males: The attire used mainly includes decorated caps, sashes, churidaars, and swirling tunics called Cholas.
Jewellery like the Chandra Haar which is an intricate necklace of silver, and a Bumni and Payal or Jhanjhar are worn by women.
As for training centres/schools, there are none available throughout the country, since this folk dance has been developed mainly in the "Kullu" region of Himachal Pradesh, and has been essentially passed on from one generation to another.
Ludi is a dance form from the district Mandi of Himachal Pradesh and used to be performed in other areas of the state and adjacent ones in the times of Kings.
Shand and Shabu are two popular dance forms in Himachal Pradesh which are generally performed at Buddhist monasteries in the loving memory of Buddha.
One masked dance form mainly features an important event in the history of Himalayan Buddhism when Lamas effectively carried out a plan of executing King Langdarma.
A special event for masked dances is the celebration of the birth of Padma Sambhava (who carried the message of Buddhism to Tibet.