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Tappeta Gundlu
Tappeta gundlu is a folk dance confined to the coastal districts of Srikakulam,
Vijayanagaram and Vishakhapatnam. This was originally performed by cowherds
and shepherds as a ritualistic dance propitiating the rain god and their
favourite deity Gangamma. While dancing they sing devotional songs on
Sri Krishna, Dasavataras and on goddess Gangamma besides other folk songs
and narratives. Tappeta or gundlu is a small percussion instrument in
the shape of a drum hanging on the chest and tied to the sides and neck
of the players. A troupe consisting of eight to sixteen artistes
sing and dance in circles beating with their hands the drums tied to their
chests. The players tie jingling bells to their ankles. They put on tight
knickers stitched with jingling bells all over. They tie colourful
clothes around their waists and long loin clothes hanging up to their
feet in front as well as at the back resembling two tails.
This dance requires skill and muscle power. The artistes
exhibit rare skills in acrobatics while dancing. The drum beats, the sounds
of jingling bells tied to their ankles and the sounds of the bells stitched
to their shorts blend harmoniously with the different gaits and steps
of the artistes. Their repertoire constitutes twenty to thirty gatibhedas.
The dance, styles along with a variety of songs composed in consonance
with the dance styles. All dancers sing
pallavi of a song or a narrative following their troupe leader. While
dancing, the artistes, eight in a group, stand one above the other on
the thighs and shoulders in the shape of a gopuram or a tree with its
branches hanging. They lie down and move like the hands of a clock. They
stand one above the other on an earthen pot with tumblers full of water
on their heads. They whirl fast and fall down with a heavy thud.
They come out of their dancing circle and exhibit shoulder and limb movements
as in the Bhangra dance of Punjab. The beating of drums, dancing
and singing always goes on.
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