SHIGMO DANCE(SHIGMOSTAV)

Shigmo Dance is a religious Hindu festival filled with colours, music, dance and floats. It tells us the life of Goan in detailed about the traditional folk dances which are performed on the streets by the large number of dancers dancing in the same direction as it is a tradition of Goa.

Shigmo Dance is also known for describing the importance of Goa’s favourite spring festival on the streets all across the state. Shigmo cloth is made with a special Goan fabric. The streets of Goa come to life during Shigmotsav with Dhol and huge Floats. They neatly light up with attractive decorations.

It is important that the Shigmo dance is performed to celebrate the upcoming of the spring season. It is a form of religious ceremony in the month of March. Every festival day is associated with the performance of a particular songs and dances with colourful outfits, holding multi coloured flags and playing large musical instruments like the Dhol Tasha across all the cities.

During celebration of Shigmotsav everyone dresses up themselves in saffron. The majority of skits presented during Shigmo has recreate some of the most important events from Indian cultural tradition.

People performed or dressed themselves in ancient epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata. Some of the people also take out their time to participate in Fancy Dress competition by various characters relating to the religious. During Shigmotsav, kids and even some adults work together in making paper idols work and doing other known characters from Indian cultural traditions.

The most popular among these paper idols is Ravana, who is a primary character in the ancient Hindu Ramayana or the King Narkasur who was killed by Lord Krishna in Mahabharata.

The best part of Shigmo dance is that it is very cheerful and lively and most joy able part is the tradition of covering each other with coloured powder and bright paints by showing one another their gladness of spring season.

The instruments played by them like beats of Dhol, Tasha and Cymbals. Shigmotsav parades are done continue in various rural areas over a fortnight period for all most 14 days. Even girls participate in playing various instruments.

All the floats go on till late night by loud cheering, even as the participants show no sign of tiring. All the participants have a good talent, spirit and put up a lot of efforts that has its roots in culture and tradition.

FUGDI DANCE

Fugdi or Foogdi is the most popular folk dance of Goa, performed only by the women in the Konkan region. It is a dance performed in the praise of Lord Ganesha during Hindu religious festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and other folk celebrations.

Fugdi dance is performed by womens either in circle or by rows. It is a common art form as it is an occasion for the women to take a temporary break from their daily routine and it is usually performed in the month of Bhadrapada that is August and September.

The dance starts with a prayer to Hindu Gods at a slow speed of footwork in a circular formation by clapping their hands and very quickly to reach a fast speed in the end. They themselves sing with no musical instrument. The only music that supports the performance is a special sound made by the women with number of special Fugdi songs. At the maximum speed, the dancers match the beat of music by blowing air through the mouth that sounds like “FOO” instead of singing.

Fugdi dance is quite famous because of the energy and songs. Fugdi is a part of Dhalo festival. Before dancing Fugdi, they light a lamp before the Tulsi Vrindavan with blessings, flowers. There are many types of Fugdi dance one of the Fugdi that is Kalshi Fugdi is probably an offshoot of the Fugdi. The tapping of the bangle hands against the copper vessels known as Kalshi in Konkani.

Fugdi is better as a dance routine you have to be familiar with the folk life. The typical pattern is two women holding each other’s hand and spinning their bodies around which looks like a spinning top in the air. 

The Fugdi actually began without any plan of the dance by the women who interspersed the work of their daily life with happy moments. Fugdi is one of the dance which has music comprising of words and beats that do not need any musical instruments and songs are created by the dancers.

DEKHNI DANCE

Goan culture introduction and dhangar dance

Goa,is one of the most modern tourist destination in india with heritage goan culture and tradition.Goa consists of numerous churches, temples and mosques.Goa's exotic beaches that spreads wide over and soft sands as well as the sea food of Goa are much admired and liked by people visiting Goa from different places. Goa's cultural richness and imagination is well reflected through Goan folk dances, Goan folk culture and Goan songs.One also gets attracted by a Christian monuments that make people aware of the most attractive architecture. Goa has turned itself to being one of the most attractive and adventurous places in India, which is much loved by tourists from across the world.Festivals are celebrated with great festive cheer.Goans love to eat fish curry with rice which serves to be their staple diet.Goans is known as Feni, which is made mainly from coconut water.A popular Hindu festival, are also celebrated in Goa with much interest and enjoyment.Cultural Goa is found to be filled with very different cultural faiths.Goa music and dances like Goff talgadi and shigmo,Dhangar dance,Fugdi dance,Lamp dance and many more...
                    DHANGAR DANCE
Dhangar Dance is a well known Goan dance form performed by a sheperd community known as Dhangars.The Dhangar dance also known as the Dhangari Gaja Dance. It is considered a Navratri dance and they worship folk god "Bira Deva" for his blessings.The Dhangar dance is performed in traditional Marathi dresses which include a Kathiawari-styled white dress and turban with colorful handkerchiefs.The dance begins with simple footwork to a slow beat accompanied to the beat of "Dhol". Generally they move around the dhol players during the dance.