Folk Dances of Goa

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Folk Dances of Goa

  • Folklores bind the present with the past and keep the continuity of civilization.
  • The originality of folklores has pleasantly surprised even most erudite scholars and litterateurs.
  • Goa has a unique cultural heritage, rich and lively and it is known for several folk festivals and performances.
  • Many castes, sub-castes and tribes mingled in its social texture in Goa’s long history & this presents a wide diversity of folk arts that incarnate its traditions, customs, convictions and culture.
  • Goa has been inhabited by many racial stocks.
  • No other region in India perhaps has had such a wide variety of political regimes.
  • The various rules introduced their life styles & cultural influences of which, the marks are vividly to be seen in the races and the rulers, there have been the in comers for trade and commerce and the men of the armed forces drawn from different cultural groups.
  • During the history spanning over 2,000 years of life, Goa has been shaped by the Bhojas, Shilaharas, Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Vijaynagar rulers, Adilshahi and finally the Portuguese.
  • The changing colours of history have left their multiple and lovely shades on the Goan life and folk art has not been an exception to it.
  • The traditional folk music and dances have continued uninterruptedly, while the influence of the Portuguese music and dance on the local culture has helped evolve new forms.
  • This happy blending and co-existence of cultural traditions gives a unique character the music and folk dances of Goa.
  • The diversity of these cultural influences makes Goa distinctive although it shares in a general way the culture of the coastal Konkan strip.
  • Among the innumerable folk dances and forms encountered in Goa include

 

  1. Talgadi,
  2. Goff,
  3. Tonya Mel,
  4. Mando,
  5. Kunbi dance,
  6. Suvari,
  7. Dasarawadan,
  8. Virabhadra,
  9. Hanpeth,
  10. Gauda jagar,
  11. Ranmale,
  12. Fugadi,
  13. Ghode Modni,
  14. Lamp Dance,
  15. Musal Dance,
  16. Romat or Mell,
  17. Morullem,
  18. Bhandap,
  19. Dhangar Dance,
  20. Dekhni

 

 

Ghode Modni

  • This is the name of a splendid folk dance that is largely performed in Bicholim Taluka of Goa.
  • The dances brangs back the memory of the great warriors in the past.
  • The dancers swing around with dummy horses tucked to their waists.
  • They carry swords in their hands showcasing bravery & at the same time they wear ‘ghungrus’.
  • The background music is the music of dhol and tasha

Dekhni

  • Dekhni is referred as a song cum dance.
  • This is because the song has western bearings while the dance is of Indian form.
  • It is only the women dancers who conduct this beautiful Dekhni dance.
  • A film producer got so enchanted by a popular Dekhni song that he made it familiar to every child of the country.
  • Whenever this dance is performed, it is done with ghumat.

DHANGAR DANCE

  • Hangars form a community of shepherds who worship a folk god named as Bira Deva.
  • They believe in rituals and various celebrations.
  • They celebrate with dances on dhol and flute.
  • The dances they perform are usually dedicated to Shri Radha & Krishna.
  • The costumes they were are named as Kathiawari white dress.

GOFF TALGADI AND SHIGMO

  • They are awesome and beautiful folk dances that are a part of Spring jubilation and they are basically performed to spread festive mood and happiness among the peasants.
  • These dances are mainly performed by peasants of Goa.
  • The peasants residing in Canacona Taluka perform the Goff dance. Goff consists of weaving of braid with various tints.
  • The entire dance is a symbol of extreme discipline.
  • Talgadi is also a folk dance that is performed on ghumat beats.
  • It is quite identical to the dandiya dance of Gujarat.
  • Shigmo is a dance that is performed by wearing colorful dresses and is done of the beats of dhol, tasha, cymbals, etc

MUSSAL KHEL

  • This is one of the folk inheritances which involve a song cum dance done in the praise of brave kings.
  • An important aspect associated with this dance is that it is performed by Christians to praise a Hindu King.
  • The main day when the dance is performed is the beautiful full moon day of falguna month of the Hindu calendar.
  • It is basically performed by the Cholas of Chandor who were defeated by the Harihar of Vijaynagar dynasty.

ZAGOR

  • Zagor is a folk dance inherited from the Modern Marathi Theatre in Goa.
  • It consists of two formsone of which belongs to the Pernni community, while the other belongs to the Christian Gawdas.
  • Pernni Zagor concentrates on the philosophical topics based on the origin of universe.
  • On the other hand the Christian Gawdas has been taken from the contemporary village life

LAMP DANCE

  • This kind of lamps uses brass lamps and it is unique and difficult since it is basically the art and skill of the dancer who keeps the lamp on his head and uses different body movements without affecting the position of the lamp.
  • The time at which this dance is performed is the time of the Shigmo festival.
  • The various instruments that are used for this kind of dance are Cymbal, Ghumat, Haronium, and Samel.
  • The songs used are the traditional folk songs and the main regions wherein this dance is performed are the southern and central regions of Goa.

FUGDI AND DHALO

  • These folk dances are basically performed by women and they are quite common.
  • The pace of Dhalo is slow while that of while that of Fugdi is fast.
  • The pattern followed by the Fugdi dance is circular and in Dhalo a dozen of women dance having their faces in front of each other.
  • Both these folk dances are performed on Marathi and Konkani songs.

VEERBHADRA

  • Veerbhadra is known as the son of Lord Shiva and he is also referred as the burning flame.
  • This dance is actually performed on Dhalo Mand’s fifth day.
  • The dance is performed while holding swords and and the instruments that are played include dhol and tasha.

KUNBI SONGS AND DANCE

  • Kunbi songs and dances are actually played by the primitive settlers in Goa that delineate ancient traditions.
  • The songs belong to the Portuguese era and they are basically for the enjoyment of the dancers.

MORULEM

  • Morulem is a popular dance in which dancers dance on old & traditional songs to please their deities.
  • The costume of the dancers includes flower garlands as well as peacock feathers adorning the heads.

ROMAT

  • This dance is accompanied by drum beats following a wonderful rhythm.
  • The dancers dance amidst big banners, batons and umbrellas as well as festooned sticks.

TONYAMEL

  • This is folk dance performed by peasants working on farms to celebrate the festivities of good harvest.
  • The dance is performed in very vigorous and aggressive movements and with lots of noise and sound.
  • The dance is a kind of homage paid to the Mother Nature and is quite fascinating.

SUVARI

  • This dance involves vibrant rhythms, music and taals which add a lot of eagerness to it.
  • It is performed for religious festivals and related events.
  • The instruments used in it are cymbals, ghumat, surt, shehnai and shamel.
  • All through Goa, This dance is performed with much cheer.

 

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