Fugdi is a

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

and

Goan Goans ( kok, गोंयकार, Romi Konkani: , pt, Goeses) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, who form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Indo-Portuguese, and ...

folk dance performed by the women in the

Konkan The Konkan ( kok, कोंकण) or Kokan () is a stretch of land by the western coast of India, running from Damaon in the north to Karwar in the south; with the Arabian Sea to the west and the Deccan plateau in the east. The hinterland ...

region during

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

religious festivals like

Ganesh Chaturthi Ganesh Chaturthi (ISO 15919, ISO: ), also known as Vinayak Chaturthi (), or Ganeshotsav () is a Hindu festival commemorating the birth of the Hindu god Ganesha. The festival is marked with the installation of Ganesha's clay Murti, idols private ...

and

Vrata Vrata is a Sanskrit word that means "vow, resolve, devotion", and refers to pious observances such as fasting and pilgrimage ( Tirtha) found in Indian religions such as Jainism and Hinduism. It is typically accompanied with prayers seeking hea ...

or towards the end of other dances like Dhalo.According to certain historical facts, this dance style is said to have been created from few ancient Goan traditions. In addition, this dance is mainly performed during the Hindu month of “Bhaadrapaada”, when women usually take a break to escape boredom arising from their daily routines. Furthermore, it is also performed during religious and social events. Fugdi Dancers from South Goa

Traditional roots

Fugdi is an art form that can be traced to the primeval cultural traditions of Maharashtra and Goa. It is performed during various religious and social occasions. Fugdi is generally performed during the month of Bhaadrapada, an occasion for the women to take a temporary break from their normal, monotonous schedule. A distinctive style of fugdi is found among the dhangar (shepherd community) women. The kalashi fugdi is performed before goddess Mahalaxkshmi during the vrata offered to that goddess.

Technique

The women sing and dance while enacting varied formations - in a circle or in rows. Usually women in the villages dance Fugdi in circles and women in forest settlements formulate rows. The dance starts with invocation to Hindu Gods. The pace is slow in the beginning, but soon attains a fast pace, reaching climax. No percussion support is provided. At the maximum pace, the dancers match the rhythm by blowing air through the mouth that sounds like "FOO". Hence the name Foogdi or Fugdi. A few fixed steps and hand gestures and hand laps are the major elements. No instrument or musical accompaniment is found with the dance, but special fugdi songs are innumerable.

Sub-forms

Girki, Cycle, Rahat, Zimma, Karvar, Bus Fugdi, Kombda, Ghuma, and Pakhwa are among the popular sub-forms. Kalashi Fugdi began as a means to break the monotony of the routine of fetching water from long distances. The women would dance their way out to the water-holes while blowing into the empty pitchers. Katti Fugdi is another popular form, performed with coconut shells in their hands.

References

Indian folk dances Goan dances {{dance-stub

Traditional roots

Technique

Sub-forms

See also

References