Tribals dance for peace

12 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
JHARGRAM, 12 OCT: While the whole state is gearing up to welcome the goddess, the tribals in Junglemahal of West Midnapore, which was infamous for Maoist violence even a year ago, are preparing to worship the deity in their own special way for peace.
This year, the tribal people from different regions will celebrate a five-day long festival in honour of Goddess Durga. “We will perform our traditional dances during these days with a prayer to our gods and goddesses so that peace in our forest land is restored forever,” said Mr Jayram Tudu, a local farmer in Kantapahari. 
Another farmer, Mr Sukhu Tudu, said; “For the past few years, we have lived under the Maoist threat and have witnessed much bloodshed here. We want peace.”
The tribals will perform the Bhuyang dance, a blend of indigenous Aryan features, characterised by the rhythmic tapping of feet to the accompaniment of traditional instruments such as versions of cymbals, gongs and flutes. The main instrument is the bhuyang, a stringed instrument made from a dried gourd, with intricate bamboo fixtures and supports that help it produce the basic tunes for the dance.  Vijaya-Dasami is an auspicious day for the Bhuyang-dance. Male artists wearing dhuties ~ napkins around waist ~ red tape in their unpolished hair, and feathers of peacock upon their heads, will dance from afternoon to night.
“During the festival, the tribals will not cut down trees. On this auspicious day, girls will fast, wishing a long lives for their brothers. If everyone celebrates this festival, we can have peace and harmony in society,” said Smriti Dutta, a social worker.
According to local residents, the tribals will perform the dance to worship the deity as a symbol of Shakti and welcome her as the vanquisher of all evils. The dance is also a means of getting her blessings for peace and prosperity.
Mr Sakti Patnayek, a dance teacher at a school said: “The musical mosaic of Junglemahal is incomplete without the vibrating notes of stringed instruments.
“The booming notes of the Bhuyang have a streamlining effect on the tunes, beats and tempos of the songs being sung. According to legends, they perform this typical dance to search for a girl named Durge who was kidnapped by attackers. This year, they will not only perform the dance for Durge, but for peace in their locality,” he said.