Sacred Dance of India

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

Page 45

Another form of the garba is the "Heench” where the women clap and snap their fingers, bending low as they move gracefully around The Räs, a vigorous male dance, takes us back to the Hallzsaka described in the Bhāgavatam The men dressed in frilled shirts, tight white trousers and coloured waist-bands, start slowly, and then work up their steps into an exhilarating crescendo of vigour The musicians squat in the centre and the cymbal player provides the rhythm with amazing dexterity
Folk-dancing throughout the world has many similarties The dummy horse dance of Tanjore has its counterpart in Poland The kukı bamboo dance of Assam is similar to the bamboo dance of the Philippine Islands, and the Hansengey dance of the Nagas
Devil dances and dances to exorcise evil spirits are common throughout all civilization In Tamil Nadu the pot dance called Karagam where the mud pot is balanced on the head, is a dance familiar all over India The accompaniment is spectacular and the orchestra or 'Naiyandı Melam' consists of nagaswaram, tavil, pipes, drums and cymbals In an agricultural society, the pot of water naturally was of significance, for it meant the sustenance of the earth
The son of Shiva, Muruga, is worshipped extensively in the South, and the Kavadi is an interesting ritual dance The Kāvadı is a structure, made of wood, and decorated with peacock feathers and balanced with pots of milk, sandalwood and incense The devotees dance with the Kāvadı upon their head, many with amazing dexterity The musical accompaniment is varied and the tunes called 'Kāvadı-chindu' are lilting and pleasant
Using the Ramāyana as a theme, the Marathas of Karkal, in two large groups dance facing each other, dressed fully in white, except for their bright red turbans Each individual sings, plays the drum and dances in a form of dialogue Here too we find the Ardhanarishwarı theme of Purusha and Prakrtz, danced to invoke the blessings of Naga, the great serpent, called 'Subba Raya' As in Kerala, the drawing of the serpent is done in chalk in a specially selected place, and over it is placed a canopy, the Naga mardala A priest represents the Naga and the meaningful songs denote the ceremonial content
Naga Dance (Manipur)
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