Art & Culture    
Two Nights with the Spirits
Bhuta Nrtya in Kondla – 2
by Neria Harish Hebbar, MD

The dance rituals are all-night affairs. There is a local fair that sells trinkets and clothing for the villagers’ benefit. (Now progress has reached the villages and a DVD movie is shown on television screen as part of the attractions.) The major landlord of the village, (who also foots the bill for the ceremony), is the guest of honor. One of the members of the family will attend the ceremony and get their assurance from the bhuta that the gods have been satisfied with the villagers’ conduct and promises to protect the village for the coming year.

Each ornament is counted and tabulated before being taken by the villagers

It started with the ceremonial transfer of the silver jewelry to be worn by the dancers from the landlord’s house, on the night before the festivities.  This year the celebration was spread over two nights.  On the first night the dance ritual was conducted in a place called Upper Kondla (often pronounced as Kolna) in the village of Neria.  The major player or the main bhuta here is called Hallathayi. 

The event takes place on February 13^th of every year.  The ritual in the Lower Kondla takes place on the following night with offerings to bhuta Raktheswari, who has her own gudi there.  The major landowner of the village has maintained the upkeep of both the gudis.  The dances on the second night starts with a fierce bhuta called Kadapu Panjurli, who dances on top of a hill (more about it later).  These two last bhutas dance only on alternate years.

The ladies of the family singing the Pad-dana

The aura and the strength of the bhutas are derived from Durga, the female personification of Hindu pantheon of gods.  They usually are fierce forms of Durga, reminiscent of Kali.  However, the bhutas are not considered as gods but are sentries of god, especially of Durga.  Every spirit has a story and history behind it.  While the long process of makeup of the dancer is in progress, the women, to the beat of a simple drum, sing the story of the bhuta’s previous travels and the heroics of the spirit’s prior adventures. These songs are called Pad-dana (many of the folk songs in Tulu Nadu are sung in the style of Pad-dana).  The dance ritual can only be performed by a certain caste of Hindus.  A single-family usually inherits the right to dance, performed by male members of the family.  The women folks of this family know the Pad-dana that is relevant to the particular spirit.

– Continued 

Page: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Top | Art & Culture  
 

Recommend This Page!

Analysis | Architecture | Astrology | Ayurveda | Book Reviews | Buddhism | Cartoons | Cinema | Computing | Culture | Dances
Environment | Fables | Family Matters | Festivals | Hinduism | Health | History | Home Remedies | Humor | Individuality | Jagoji
Literary Shelf | Memoirs | Musings | Opinion | Parenting | Perspective | Photo Essays | Places | Ramblings
Random Thoughts | Recipes | Sikhism | Society | Spirituality | Stories | Teens | Travelogues | Vastu | Vithika | Women

Home | Hindi | Bolography | BoloKids | Kabir | Poetry | Quotes | Workshop | Writers | Contribute | Search | Contact

Boloji.com is owned and managed by Boloji Media Inc
Privacy Policy | Disclaimer
No part of this Internet site may be reproduced without prior written permission of the copyright holder.