Reverential dance
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Ghanta patua are ritualistic dancers who eulogise the mother goddess during the month of Chaitra.
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WHEN THE tinkling sound of `ghanta' (brass bells) reverberate in the village streets in the month of `Chaitra' (March-April), the villagers know that the `ghanta patua' has come to stage their ritualistic dance which is a form of worship to the Mother Goddess.
These dancers are servitors of the temples of various mother deities like goddess Sarala, goddess Charchika, goddess Bhagabati, etc. Such temples are spread across the length and breadth of Orissa, since worship of mother goddess is a major trend in the State.
Usually they set out in groups of two or four, and though they are men, one of them is dressed like a woman. But the costume is peculiar. He wears a black skirt with red border. In fact, there is a predominance of black and red, for the veil tied around the head with two ends dangling on both sides is also black. He wears a spotted jacket and bears on his head the `ghata' (the sacred pitcher taken from the temple). The `ghata' decorated with flowers, sandal paste and colour threads, is placed on a wooden stand.
When the `ghanta patua', as he is called in the villages, breaks into a dance, he takes care to balance the `ghata' on his head. Sometimes, his dance is slow and sometimes fast-paced. Various yogic postures are displayed during the dance. At that time, his feet are bare. Later, he fixes wooden stilts on his legs and does some acrobatic movements with a rare skill. The accompanists play the `ghanta' and the `dhol' as he works out an intricate terpsichorean pattern that is a visual treat.
The `ghanta patua' moves from village to village the entire month of `Chaitra' before returning to the temple on April 14, the Visuba Sankranti day. During their month-long ritualistic performance, they live on the cereals collected from villagers after each performance.
B.M.
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