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Dimsa Dance of Araku Valley
The Araku valley is the most charming hilly region in
Visakhapatnam district. Valmiki, Bagata, Khond and Rotia tribes
inhabit this valley and other areas of this district. The favourite
dance of these tribes is Dimsa which is performed by old and young men
and women, during the month of chaitra i.e. in March/April, during
weddings and other festivals. During festivals people go from one village
to another to participate in the dance and are honoured with community
feasts. People of different villages enjoy such festivities and dances
called 'Sankidi Kelbar'. Dimsa Dance not only provides amusement to the
dancers and spectators but also develops friendship and fraternity between
people of different villages. The instruments accompanying Dimsa are mori
Kiridi, tudumu, duppu and jodukommulu. There are eight varieties
of the Dimsa Dance.
i) Boda Dimsa- It is a worship dance in honour
of the village goddess. Men on the right side and women on the left side
form two rows and hold one another firmly with their hands over their
backs. The first man in the right row, with a bunch of peacock feathers
in his hands in rhythmical steps takes the lead as a hero and the last
person in the left row joins him. Then all the dancers, once again to
the sounds of the anklets move zigzag as in a serpent dance in a circle,
crying Hari and Hui. In mirth they go round and come back in to the rows.
ii) Gunderi Dimsa or 'Usku Dimsa'- A male
member of the dancing troupe sings out an invitation to the females to
dance with him. The males and females with firm steps moving forward and
backwards, stride in a circle. This is a vigorous and exciting dance.
iii) Goddi Beta Dimsa - Bowing down
and lifting up their heads, the tribal troupes dance as if they are picking
up stones. Bending forward and rising up with a swing, they go forward
twenty-five steps and come back in the same manner. This is repeated four
to five times.
iv) Potar - Tola Dimsa - This dance symbolises
picking up leaves. Half of the dancers stand side by side in a row. The
rest stand behind the first row in the same manner and keep their hands
on the shoulders of the people standing before them. Turning their
heads to the right and left, the two rows march forward and backward.
v) Bhag Dimsa- This dance is meant as an instruction
on how to escape from a tiger's attack. Half of the troupe form a circle
hand in hand. They stand on their toes, bowing and raising their heads.
Moving round swiftly, the rest enter the circle and form a 'serpent coil'.
This is repeated several times.
vi) Natikari Dimsa- This is a solo dance performed
by valmikis on Deepavali in particular and other tribals during other
festivals in general.
vii) Kunda Dimsa- In this the dancers push
each other with their shoulders while singing rhythmically.
viii) Baya Dimsa. This is a dance of the tribal
magician (gamachari) when he is possessed by the village goddess. All
the villagers surround the magician with their heads bowed and imitate
him. This continues till the magician returns to normalcy from his trance.
The united community view point is the essential feature
of these tribal dances. Without any discrimination of caste and creed,
age and sex, the whole community participate in these dances. The community
development programmes have affected their way of life and the dance forms,
which essentially belongs to their cultural heritage. All the dances conform
to the rhythm of either Aditala or Rupakatala.
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