music
Goa
Music
Goa Music reflects the cultural milieu of the
state. Music is an ingredient part of Goan lifestyle and runs deep in their
blood. Besides the huge depository of folk music, Goa embraces a number of
Western forms of compositions. Owing to the state’s affluent musical legacy,
Goa boasts of producing some of the greatest musician of all times. The
infamous Lata Mangeshkar and her sibling Asha Bhosle are native Goans.
Goa
Music – Various Forms
Traditional Goan Music: It was the Portuguese who introduced the usage of
violin, piano and mandolin in Goan music. The local Konkani Song can be
categorized in four sets. The first one is that which illustrates the mere
immaculate form in melody and rhyme such as in fugdi or dhalo. The second one
is which combines western and local music but preserves Konkani libretto such
as in deknnis. The third one is which combines local and global music along
with the lingo such as dulpod and the fourth one is which has a deep influence
of global music and librettos in Konkani along with several Portuguese lyrics
such as in Mando.
Konkani melodies can further be classified in 35 different kinds including
launimm, dulpod, banvarh, zagor, dhalo, palnnam, tiatr, ovi, deknni, zoti,
kunnbi, duvalo, fell, mando, fughri, talghari, etc.
Mando: Manddo is the most
omnipresent kind of Goan folk music. Basically a love song, Mando is considered
as an amalgamation of Indian and global melodic kinds. The music form developed
as a conventional melodic form in the 1840s and is fundamentally presented by
the Goan Catholic Christians. The closing piece of Mando is known as Dhulpad
and is an offshoot of Goan folk music. The music form is an offshoot of Goan
folk music and antecedes the main Manddo presentation. A variety of musical
devices for instance ghumat, the conventional drumming instrument of Goa,
guitar and violin are used while performing a Mando.
Ovi Songs: Ovi songs are a kind
of marriage music principally observed among the Hindu society in Goa. Goan
women hum Ovi Hymns while rubbing coconut squash milk to the groom and bride,
and also while making flavorings for dinners. At the time when supporters of
Christianity cascaded on Goa, they absorbed biblical premises in the Ovi songs
to attract the attention of localities towards them. Goans frequently assemble
around a bonfire and reverentially hymn Ovi songs created by the missionaries
in Konkani lyrics.
Besides the conventional forms of music, Goa is known for its vivid and
globally admired music culture. Goa is extensively considered as the hometown
of trance music which was created in 1960s by the hippies. Pop music also holds
a firm place in Goa and has singers like Remo Fernandez to its credit.
| art
A land of blended cultures, the unison
finds expression in the art and crafts of Goa. While on a trip to Goa, its
difficult to resist temptation to buy souvenirs. One can see temples and
churches adorned with 'folk' paintings. These paintings usually depict scenes
from Mahabharata or Ramayana or the new testaments. The museums and art
galleries in Goa also carry numerous examples of the Goan art. And not just the
churches and the art galleries, you can catch glimpses of how the Portuguese
and India  n forms merge in humble house holds.
Among the crafts of Goa , there is no end. Its difficult to pick what is best, the
exquisitely carved rosewood and teak furniture, the terracotta work or the
'visible everywhere' sea shells work. Even in today's Techno driven world,
these hand made souvenirs look so inviting on the counters of shops.
The art and craft of Goa, like its culture has come out of a blend of
Indo-Portuguese art forms. Capturing the fancy of Goans as well as tourists,
Goa craft has won critical acclaim from the connoisseurs of the art world. Some
prominent crafts forms in Goa are the bamboo craft, woodcarving, brass metals,
sea shell crafts, paper mache and wooden lacquer ware.
Pottery And Terracotta
While pottery is art of traditional form
made with earthen clay, terracotta is ceramic clay. These are the traditional
crafts forms of Goa. Utility cum decorative items are made out of these such as
flower garden pots, pen holders, ashtrays, bowls, statues of saints and
goddesses. They also draw inspiration from religious or historical themes.
Borde and Bicholim are two famous centres of earthenware, though pottery is
made all over Goa.
Brass Metal Work
Brass items are very famous with tourists
especially samais. This craft is available in plenty in the markets of Goa.
Unlike utility items which are made from sheet metal, brass metal is a
different thing. The craft is passed from one generation to another and
practiced on heredity basis. Its used mainly for casting decorative items like
oil lamps, church bells, candle stands, ashtrays and temple towers etc.
Laquerware / Wood turning
Wood turning is a form of woodcarving that
is used to create wooden objects (e.g. a bowl or a table leg) on a lathe using
cutting tools. Wood turning differs from most other forms of woodworking, here
the wood is moving while a (relatively) stationary tool is used to cut and
shape it. You will get cradles, baby carts, toys, corner stands, etc in Goa made by wood turning.
Crochet And Embroidery
The importance of crochet in Goa can be
realized by the fact that every bride brings her crochet and embroidery work as
dowry which is then displayed to demonstrate her expertise in the craft.
Crochet and embroidery in Goa is inherent to every household where it is passed
from one generation to another. Though the craft of crochet and embroidery has
been in India since time immemorial but it came to Goa with the arrival of nuns
and missionaries in fifteenth century. And thus started this tradition of
crochet and embroidery in Goa which has only improved in quality and design
since. The items made are hankies, table clothes, children and ladies garments,
pillow and cushion covers and bed spreads etc.
Bamboo Craft
Bamboo craft initially was more of a
utility based thing where in 'mahras', a scheduled community made items
required by farmers and fishermen. They made things to store food grains, sell
fish. Many utility items made out of bamboo are still used in villages like
baskets, valli and supli (for washing and cleaning rice) and dali used as floor
cover or to dry food grains. With time this traditional craft has taken shape
of decorative cum utility items. Different types of flower baskets, flower
pots, letter stands, fans etc are some common items now sold.
Fiber Craft
Nuns from Kerela brought the fiber craft to
Goa. Fiber articles were earlier produced for utility purposes. This craft
comes in handy keeping in mind the changing living style. The function of fiber
is combined with some ornamentation to bring out some attractive and colorful
items. Shopping bags, ladies purses, coasters, wall hangings are made by some
women organizations of Goa using banana or sisal fiber.
| dance
The Goan folk dances
bear a tradition of thousands of years, characterized by innumerable forms
performed by and reflecting lifestyles, cultures and aspirations of different
strata, religions and castes of Goan society. The prominent ones include the
Dashavatara, Ghode Modni and the Goff Dance.
Dashavatara
Dashavatara dance is
the performance of ten rupas or ten different incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It
is one of the famous dance of Goa.
Ghode Modni dance
Ghode Modni dance
literally involves horse-like movements in its performances. It is a
spectacular warrior-dance performed for the remembrance of the victory of the
Ranes, the Maratha rulers of the Satari taluka in Goa, over the Portuguese.
This dance is more popular in Bicholim, Pernem and Satari talukas, which was
once ruled by the Marathas. It is also performed during the time of Shigmo
festival in Goa. For the performance, the kshatriya dancers wear huge head
gears made up of colourful flowers. Even the wooden horses are beautifully
bridled and decorated with spotless white clothes and there are tied ghungurs
on the anklets. The performance begins with the simple steps of the dance.
Holding the bridle in one hand and brandishing and waving a naked sword in the
other hand, the dancers take forward and backward steps on the beat of drums -
Dhol, Tasha and Cymbals. These instruments are used to recreate the prancing of
warhorses.
Basically, the brave
deeds & praiseful actions of the Goan warriors are expressed in their dance
named as Godhe Modni dance. This dance is also known as dummy horse
presentation, where the attractively dressed dancers armed with swords perform.
For three days the people are in a mood for fun and frolic during Carnival.
This dance is a special attraction of this Annual Carnival season.
Goff Dance
The Goff Dance is a
folk dance performed with using cords, reflecting joy and happiness of peasants
from Goa after the seasons of harvest.
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