Dhimsa is a tribal dance form that is performed primarily by Porja

caste Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultura ...

women in Andhra Pradesh . 15-20 महिलाओं का एक समूह एक मंडली बनाता है और अपने घरेलू जीवन के कल्याण के लिए देवता की स्तुति करता है। वे शादियों में भी नृत्य करते हैं क्योंकि महिलाएं शांतिपूर्ण और सुखी वैवाहिक जीवन के लिए प्रार्थना करती हैं। वे आम तौर पर आदिवासी कपड़े और गहने पहनते हैं जबकि प्रमुख महिला अपने हाथ में मोर पंख भी रखती है।.

Origin

Dhimsa originated in

Koraput district Koraput is a district of India in southern Odisha, with headquarters at Koraput. The district is located in the Eastern Ghats and is known for its hilly terrain, rich and diverse types of mineral deposits and its tribal culture and traditions. Th ...

in the

Odisha Odisha (English: , ), formerly Orissa ( the official name until 2011), is an Indian state located in Eastern India. It is the 8th largest state by area, and the 11th largest by population. The state has the third largest population of ...

State, but has almost become an official dance of

Visakhapatnam , image_alt = , image_caption = From top, left to right: Visakhapatnam aerial view, Vizag seaport, Simhachalam Temple, Aerial view of Rushikonda Beach, Beach road, Novotel, Novotel Visakhapatnam, INS Kursura (S20), INS ...

. Dhimsa means "sound of the foot steps". Dhimsa is in the groove with the culture of this region, especially with places near

Araku Valley Araku Valley is a hill station in Alluri Sitharama Raju district in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, lying 111 km west of Visakhapatnam city. This place is often referred to as ''Ooty of Andhra''. It is a valley in the Eastern Ghats inha ...

and

Borra Caves The Borra Caves (also called ''Borra Guhalu'') are located on the East Coast of India, in the Ananthagiri hills of the Araku Valley (with hill ranges' elevation varying from ) of the Alluri Sitharama Raju district in Andhra Pradesh. The caves ...

.Earlier unmarried youth used to dance. There is no discrimination , people belonging to this tribe irrespective of the wealth they possess, the power etc,they feel united and participate in dhimsa. It is generally played as a relief time during their working hours. Each dance movement resembles their daily activity like picking leaves or plants,farmming activities, tradition culture during matrimonial alliances, protecting them from wild life etc.

Style of dance

This expressive dance is dominated by the movements of feet and hands of the group performing the dance in a circle. Though this dance can be performed by men and women, young and old, typically around 15-20 women form a chain and move their feet according to the rhythm and make formations of smaller to larger circles. There are several variations in this dance. The popular twelve variations are: 1) Bhag Dhimisa 2. Natikari Dhimsa 3. Kunda Dhimisa 4. Pathartola Dhimisa 5. Pedda Dhimisa 6. Sambor Nisani Dhimisa 7. Bayya Dhimisa 8. Mouli Dhimisa 8.Choti Dhimisa 9. Boda Dhimsa (Involves worship of their ritual goodness or god in villages.) 10. Goddi Beta Dimsa (Dancer moves both backward and forward with the swinging of body.)

Instruments

The members play Dappu (drum with a short stick), Tudumu, Mori, Kiridi and Jodukommulu. The performers dance to the drum beats and usually the music is played by men.

Costume

The attire is colorful with earthy tones of green, red and yellow. The dancers wear

saree A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various Languages of South Asia, regional languages include: * as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO * bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO * gu, સાડી ...

s that fall just below the knee. Their necks are adorned with tribal ornaments.

External links

*http://www.visitvizag.in/dhimsa.asp *http://www.discoveredindia.com/andhra-pradesh/culture-in-andhra-pradesh/dance-in-andhra-pradesh/dhimsa.htm *http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/dhimsa-dance-festival-inaugurated/article1204702.ece *http://www.indiantravelportal.com/andhra-pradesh/dances/dhimsa.html {{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031134046/http://www.indiantravelportal.com/andhra-pradesh/dances/dhimsa.html , date=2019-10-31 Dances of India Circle dances