Varsha PandeyThe folk dance of Goa has a unique cultural heritage, rich and lively.
and it also has folk festivals and performances.
A land of diverse religions and cultures, it is no surprise that India is very diverse in terms of art, music, and dance.
Almost every region of the country has its own folk music and dance.
Goa’s t folk dances are in a way that reflects the worldview and lifestyle of the local people.
If you watch a Goa folk dance performance, then you will literally be able to see they are a rich historical, blend of different faiths and cultural legacies.
Goa is a also unique amalgamation of a variety of cultures.
Many castes, sub-castes, and tribes mingled in their social texture in Goa`s long history.
a wide diversity of folk arts that incarnate its traditions, customs, convictions, and culture.
No other region in India perhaps has had such a wide variety of political regimes.
there have been the incomers for trade and commerce and the men of the armed forces drawn from different cultural groups.
The changing colors of history have left their multiple and lovely shades on the Goan life.
The traditional folk music and dances uninterruptedly, while the influence of Portuguese music and dance on the local culture is new forms.
This happy blending and co-existence of cultural traditions give a unique character to 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.
Dhalo Folk dance of Goa
Dhalo is one of the most famous dances in Goa.
But female only performs this dance.
It is mainly during (the month of Paush), the Hindu month between December and January.
Women gather in the evening after dinner to dance.
They form 2 rows facing each other.
Rows are made up of groups of 12 dancers each.
A dance form full of passion and charm.
The dancers cross their arms and line up in a straight line.
The singer is accompanied by dancers who sing in either Marathi or Konkani to a melodic rhythm.
You will enjoy the beat and feet hitting the ground full of enthusiasm and passion.
Corredinho Folk dance of Goa
It is also one of Goa’s popular dances.
but is most common in wealthy communities.
This is a pair dance by men and women in pairs.
A total of 6 couples participate in the dance.
Dancers wear bright, colorful costumes.
Tapping the feet is a key element of the dance and the dancers dance to the beat of the music.
Danny
Dehni again female dance like Dhalo.
But here the concept is different.
This dance is to portray the life of Devdasi.
In Hindu mythology, there was also belief in a marriage between a god and a girl.
She continues to serve the Lord throughout her life.
The girls were called Devdasi and served the deity in the temple.
The music accompanying the dance is a blend of Indo-Western cultures.
Fugdi
it is also another famous Goan folk dance by women.
Dances are in groups, forming a circle.
Dancers are not accompanied by singers or musicians.
However, They sing and dance with lively gestures.
This dance is at many social events and religious ceremonies in Goa.
It symbolically expresses human potential power and energy.
There are two types, Katti Fugdi and Kalshi Fugdi.
The first uses a coconut shell as a support and the second uses a pot of water.
This folk dance is mostly by women and is very common.
Dalò’s tempo is slow while Fugdi’s is fast.
lamp dance
Ramp dancing showcases the skill and talent of the performers who perform it.
They balance brass lamps on their heads and move slowly.
It is spectacular to see the persistence and perseverance of the dancers as they master themselves to keep the ramp intact and balanced.
Basically, The lamps are quite heavy and the dedication of the performers really amazes me.
Also Watching them is a feast for the eyes.
This type of ramp uses a brass ramp, holding the ramp upside down without affecting its position, and using different body movements is basically the art and skill of the dancer.
This dance is unique and difficult because it is performed during the Shimo Matsuri.
Various instruments used in this type of dance are cymbals, gum at, halonium, and samel.
The songs are traditional folk songs and the main areas where this dance takes place are south and central Goa.
Dhangar
It is based on the story of Lord Krishna and his lover Radha.
A divine character in Hindu mythology.
Pastoral communities in Gujarat perform dances mainly during Navratri.
Navratri is a nine-day religious Hindu festival.
On the first day, the head of the family starts dancing.
Other members joined the next day.
The idol of the Lord is placed in the center of the village.
People gather around the idol and dance.
He is one of Goa’s slowest and simplest folk dances.
Dashavatara
The word ‘Dashavatara’ in Hindu mythology alludes to his ten incarnations of the Hindu god Vishnu.
The dance is by both men and women.
As the name suggests, the dance represents the ten manifestations of Lord Vishnu.
It is by both men and women.
Various mythological figures from Hindu stories are in this dance form.
The dancers wear elaborate hats and heavy ornaments.
Their faces are painted with different colors to represent the different manifestations of the Lord.
Sigmo Folk dance of Goa
Sigmo is also one of Goa’s most important folk dances.
The purpose of the dance is to celebrate the new spring harvest.
A beautiful and mild climate enlivens the celebrations.
This dance is very popular among farmers in rural areas of Goa.
There is also a theory that it is held to celebrate the victory of soldiers returning from the battlefield.
Kumbi Folk dance of Goa
The Cumbis are a tribe that has lived in Goa for many years.
They mainly perform the dance at social gatherings and religious festivals and events.
Kumbi is performed by women.
Elegance and grace determine the dance form.
It is one of the best folk dances in Goa.
It’s fun to watch dancers dance in unison in sync.
Romat Folk dance of Goa
is a street show in which dancers and musicians travel in procession.
Traditional instruments such as drums and cymbals are used.
The dancers are dressed in bright colors with sparkles and sparkles that adorn their dresses.
Huge banners, parasols and various other symbols are carried by the crowd throughout the procession.
This is one of the most popular folk dances in Goa and people gather to watch the fun on the streets.
ROMAT A dance with drum beats set to a wonderful rhythm.
Dancers dance between large flags, batons, umbrellas and decorated poles.
Goff Folk dance of Goa
Goff is an experienced dance form from Goa.
A unique act is in a special dance.
Dancers use multiple strings to form different artistic patterns as they dance to the beat of the music.
They analyze formations and rearrange them during performances.
The song that accompanies the dance is dedicated to the Hindu god Lord Krishna.
Cannonballs are weapons used in warfare in ancient India.
Known as brave warriors, the Kshatriyas used Mussal.
It is a dance performed to commemorate the victory of the war.
It usually takes place during the full moon in February or March.
The song that accompanies the dance form consists of 22 couplets.
Gode Modni
The name Ghode Modni means horse movement.
The dancers wear a horse-shaped structure or model around their hips.
They move around swinging their swords. The performers’ dresses consist of different colors combined with beautiful ornaments and beautiful headpieces. Comes with drums and cymbals
Veebhadra
This folk dance pays tribute to Veer Bhadra, a companion of the Hindu god Shiva, but widely believed to be his son.
To the sound of the dhole (drum) and kasare (cymbals), the player of the Royal Ensemble flashes two swords in his hand, as if preparing for battle.
This dance is actually performed by his Dhalo Mand on his fifth day.
Emerging in the 1990s and introduced by hippies, it is his one of Goa’s most popular electronic dance music.
Today it is usually performed at nightclubs, parties and local events.
Trance music is also called hippie trance or psychedelic trance.
Trance music of Goa
It is one of the most popular electronic dance music of Goa originated in the 1990’s, introduced by Hippies.
It is usually performed today in nightclubs, parties and local events.
Trance music is also known as Hippie trance or Psychedelic trance.
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.
A war dance celebrating the victory of King Harihara II of the Vijaynagar Empire over the Cholas.
The performers lead an elderly kshatriya gaungkar (village) as the kidnapper of a bear (the iconic image of Chola) who wears a worn black blanket and holds a fig branch.
ZAGOR
Zagor is a folk dance inherited from the Modern Marathi Theatre in Goa.
It consists of two forms one of which belongs to the Pernni community, while the other belongs to the Christian Gawdas.
Pernni Zagor concentrates on philosophical topics based on the origin of the universe.
On the other hand, the Christian Gawdas have been taken from the contemporary village life
KUNBI SONGS AND DANCE
Kunbi songs and dances are actually played by the primitive settlers in Goa that delineates 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.
However, dancers dance to old & traditional songs to please their deities.
The costume of the dancers includes flower garlands as well as peacock feathers adorning the heads.
Tonyamel
The folk dance by peasants.
to celebrate the festivities of a good harvest.
The dance is in very vigorous and aggressive movements.
Dance with lots of noise and sound.
The dance is a kind of gratitude to Mother Nature.
Suvari
This dance is all about vibrant rhythms, and music.
Usually, that adds a lot of eagerness to it.
It is done for religious festivals.
The instruments are cymbals, ghumat, surt, shehnai, and shamel.
Throughout Goa, people dance with much cheer.
