Goa, the land of traditional folk dances

by W.T.J.S. Kaviratne Ambalangoda Spl. Cor.

The discovery of a small statue of a dancing girl cast in bronze over 4000 years old in Mohenjo Daro, the ancient city of Harappan civilisation in the Indus River Valley reveals the ancient origins of dancing in the Indian subcontinent.

Since the days of antiquity, India has been identified as a treasure trove rich in its unique diversity of religious faiths, cults, multitude of cultures and mythologies and strands of all these traits are intricately and inextricably woven in the traditional folk dance forms found scattered all over India.

Irrespective of regional, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity in India the Indian folk dance forms have contributed immensely for the development of classical dances.

As the name suggests, folk dances had been created by the people in the rural sector mostly relevant to the day-to-day issues of their life styles.

Some of the folk dances found in India are confined to certain tribes and these folk dance forms are known as tribal dances. In India traditional folk dances are performed to mark special events such as the birth of a child, harvesting seasons, weddings and numerous other rituals and festivals confined to different communities.

Impact

The State of Goa on the West Coast of India can be proud of its rich diversity of performing arts and since prehistoric times it had been one of the important regions of India which won the attention of numerous ancient warring races and invaders including the Portuguese.

Prehistoric rock carvings and engravings found in Goa traced the stone age people who lived in Goa as far back 10000–8000 B.C. According to the research carried out by numerous historians both the ancient sea farers of Sumerians and Phoenicians had also inhabited in Goa.

The unique cultural heritage of Goa since its long history of over 2000 years can be attributed to the lasting impact caused by the occupation of Goa by numerous races such as Sathavanas, Bhojas, Shilahras, Rashtrakutas, Kadambas, Rulers of Vijaynagar, Adilshas, Marathas and the Portuguese.

The blending of the traits of the diversity of cultures and stories based on mythologies had paved the way for multiculturalism which can be traced both in the classical and folk dance forms performed in the whole of Goa.

Konkani, Mangalorean Catholics, Karavari Catholics and Indo Aryan communities are the chief inhabitants of Goa.

Vedic period

In ancient times Goa was known as Gomantak which in Sanskrit means the fertile land full of water.

In the Hindu epic Mahabharata, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu was woven around the mythology of Parashuram and reference to Gomantak (Goa) was made in the Hindu epic Mahabharata. It is believed that the Saraswat Brahmins migrated to Bengal and later settled down in Konkan area of Goa around 1000 B. C. Kunibis were identified as the first tribe to inhabit Goa and with this indigenous people of Goa and the migrant Brahmin communities Goan stretch between the Arabic sea and the Western Ghats was made a fertile land.

According to Hindu Mythology more than 100 gods and goddesses are worshipped in Goa and due to the belief of the presence of such a large number of gods, Goa is also known as the “Land of Gods”.

Traditional folk dances

Talgadi, Goff, Tonya Mel, Mando, Kunbi, Suvari, Dasarawadan, Virabhadra, Gauda Jagar, Ranmale, Fugadi, Ghode Modni, Divlyan or Lamp Dance, Musal Dance, Romat Dekni, Dhalo and Dashavatara are a few of the many folk dance traditions found in Goa.

The theme of Dashavatara dance is centred around the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

But the opinions of the scholars on the origin of the genre of this dance form differ. Some are of the opinion that Dashavatara originated from “Kuchipudi”.

The stealing of “Vedas” was considered as the theme of Dashavatara and the issue of the theft of the Vedas is discussed by the Sutradhar (stage manager) Brahmins, women actors representing rivers, Lord Brahma (Creator) and Goddess Saraswati (Goddess of Learning) and the Demon Shankhasur are the other characters in the dance.

This dance form was believed to have been introduced to Konkan in Goa around 16th century.

Dhalo dance

This dance from is performed by women folk on the moonlit nights. Mother Earth and God Siva are the Hindu deities propitiated by performing this dance. Songs are sung in Konkani and Marathi languages and 12–24 women dancers participate in the performance usually held in a courtyard of a rural setting.

This folk dance form is very popular in the villages of South Goa. Thorough training on balancing and self discipline are essential qualities required to be an efficient Lamp Dancer.

Balancing brass lamps with burning wicks (Divli) on heads and hands while engaged in synchronised pattern of slow dance with careful foot work by all the members of the dancing group are needed. Musical instruments of Ghumat, Shamel, Cymbal and Harmonica are played and dancers sing the folk songs to the tune of the instruments.

Kunbi dance

This is tribal dance and the Kunbis the earliest inhabitants of Goa still celebrate their annual festival in Goa. In the month of Falgun the Kunbis relaxed for five days and engaged in dancing. They dance to the beats of the musical instruments of Chumat, Mhadaem and Kanseem. The Kunbi dancers begin dancing with slow rhythms which gradually turn to speedy movements of both linear and circular patterns.

The theme of a folk song sung by the Kumbi dancers is based on a coy bride filling a pitcher in the ankle deep water of a stream. While she was filling the pitcher a fish called “Thigur” was winking at her. Goff is a dance performed by the peasants of Goa. To mark the harvesting season this dance form is performed by them as a cult ritual to propitiate the deities.

All the songs sung by the dancers engaged in Goff are dedicated to Lord Krishna. Cords of different hues are used in this folk dance form. Many of the pole coloured cords or ribbons are hung at the centre point of a long pole. The dancers while dancing weave and unweave the braids.

Dekni dance

Dekni in Konkani language means a “Bewitching beauty”. Dekni is a folk dance form, a blend of both Hindu – Christian traditions found in the lives of Goans. The theme of the dance form is centred around the Devdasi life. It was believed that the Devdasi girls considered to be the custodians of Art were in the habit of visiting places to offer their performances at weddings and on other occasions of importance.

One day Devdasi girls happened to cross a river to do a dance performances at a wedding. Due to stormy weather the boatman refused to cross the river. The boatman continuously refused to their pleadings even they tried to offer their gold jewellery. Then the girls started dancing while singing a melodious folk song. Dancing of the Devdasi girls could bewitch the boatman and at last he agreed to take the girls to the other side of the river. Fugdi Folk dance is performed by a group of women dancers. This dance form is performed in circles and in rows. No musical instruments are used but numerous fugdi songs based on themes relevant to Puranic stories.

Dhalo dance

Dhalo folk dance is also performed by women dancers in Goa. In an open courtyard during the moonlit nights of the month of winter Dhalo dance is performed. The dancers while singing folk songs based on both social and religious significance do dancing bending, moving forward and backward in two rows facing each other. The Kala Academy is the Government Institution of Goa promoting Performing Arts including Classical and Folk Dance Traditions of the State of Goa in the West Coast of India.