Folkdances of Fishermen

As in earlier days, Krishnanand Kamat Pratishthan, foundation had arranged cultural and educative programmes, at Honavar (North Kanara district, Karnataka) on December 16,2010. A full team of forty people came from Bhatkal in two buses. They presented song and dance programs typical of their Konkani Kharvi Community. Boys and girls performed separately.

Pouring the sorted fish in the baskets

One group sang the songs and other group enacted the scene of pouring the fish-catch in the baskets. Then they sang the songs of women who in olden times started for selling fish, moving from house to house and explaining what variety they carried.

Reminding us how their fore-mothers went to town, selling fish

Then Youngman followed enacting of running a boat in the deep sea with typical Indian-oar. Holi or the spring festival is the biggest for Kharvis.

Rowing the boat: Typical Kharvi oar is on the right.

They dance whole night invoking Durga their main deity and other gods. Earthen pots with lizard skin tied to the mouth bring out resounding sound. This drum called "gumta" is common among all tribes and village folks of North Kanara. Beating the drums vigorously and dancing rhythmically, they can create a real festive mood involving the whole village.

Beating gumtas and dancing with vigor

Finally the dancers wanted to be photographed with the President of the Kamat Foundation (me!).

They all had whale of time!

Female dancers with Amma.

Male dancers with Amma.