FOLK DANCE OF GOA

1. The dalo is an ancient Goan folk dance performed predominantly by women which combines dance, drama and music. Women dressed in colourful traditional saris stand in two rows, facing each other and dance to the tune of melodious folk songs. Once the harvest is cut and stored, the dalo is held at the village maand (sacred ground) on moonlit nights in winter (in the Hindu month of paush).

2. Diwli Nach is a dance performed during shigmo (spring festival celebrated close to holi) while balancing an oil-lamp with five lit wicks on the head without any support. The trick is not to tilt or topple the lamp during the dance. Though a great amount of concentration is required to perform this task, the dancers go about it very naturally and gracefully.

3. Ghode Modni is a war dance performed in North Goa. The dance is held during shigmo by men brandishing swords and wearing a hobbyhorse which gives them the appearance of riding horses. The dance is said to depict the victorious returning home of Rane’s warriors after defeating the enemy. The costumes are worn after carrying out religious rituals, usually in a temple.

4. Goff is also performed during the shigmo festival. In the village of Poiguinim, a group of men move from house to house performing this dance. Colourful ropes are suspended from the roof of the matov (canopy). Each dancer holds one rope and to the rhythm of the song, performs the dance twining the ropes in the process to form a cord. Then they perform reverse movements to untwine the ropes. This dance for sure makes for a scintillating performance!

5. Mando is a folk song where men and women simulate a mock flirtation to songs that speak poignantly of yearning and rejections of love. The mando is sung by the Christians during family celebrations like weddings and feasts. The western influenced melodies are played on a violin, while a ghumot (local percussion instrument) provides the beat.