Sacred Dance of India

Author(s): Mrinalini Sarabhai
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 44

people enjoy both classical and folk-dancing and, because of this, the folkdancing has a more mature and elaborate unity than the spontaneous movements of the same form in other parts of the country The Karkottikalı, done by a group of women, in a circle, is especially interesting, as often, during festival days, women from different villages form teams and vie with each other both in the intricate steps and in the refrain, sung by one woman and taken up in chorus by the others The movements are well formed and exquisite patterns are executed as the young women dance Another dance popular with the women is the Thiruvadarakalı
The Nairs of Malabar were essentially a warrior race, and often danced with swords and shields, displaying the fine skill that, in the old days, was part of every young boy's training Dancing made their feet nimble and the rhythm not only gave them dexterity in movement, but also contributed to the development of a keen mind and body, that must have prepared them well for real fighting For dancing, even with abandon, slowly after tension is dissolved, builds up a discipline in its insistence on elaboration of simple lines, and constant repetitions, especially in group construction, till finally a unity with oneself and with others is unconsciously established The Velakali is a typical example of a martial dance relating the fight between the Pandavas and the Kauravas
The Bihu, the popular dance of Assam, is done by men alone in a circular group (Hichari) and also by men and women to the accompaniment of drum, cymbal and pipe The harvest or Margarnar dance reflects the work of the people, as they harvest the crop So much of dance was linked to crops as thanksgiving in West Bengal in the Karam festival of Bengal where a song says -
'O brother, Goddess Lakshmi awakens, Goddess Bhagawati awakens
The night of the new moon awakens
The full moon awakens
Oh our Mother, oh Goddess
Oh brother, a blessing can bring
ten cattle and five sons and unending wealth'
The Naga warriors of Assam, richly and rather fiercely clad, dance a vigorous warlike dance The ornaments they wear, the long spears, the shields and their painted faces, give a realistic terror to their dances, and the incessant beating of the drum has a queer effect on the spectators
In Gujarat, the garba dance is still extremely popular Seen in its proper setting in the open, where the women worship Amba Mata, singing and swaying in their wide sweeping ghagras and brightly decorated cholis and odhnis, it is a vigorous and swift dance As they dance in a circle, the rich silver jewellery flashes in the sunlight, while the men, equally colourful in their frilled coats and turbans, watch enthusiastically They sing
"Now, open the doors of the temple O Ambika,
Navaratri approaches,
The stars in the sky, worship you
The wind as your shehnar welcomes you
""
All the people, anxiously await you