Dollu Kunitha

Dollu Kunitha
Dollu Kunitha performance at the Fireflies Festival of Sacred Music, April 8, 2006.

Dollu Kunitha (dance), is a major form of art, occupies the pride of place among folk dances. Dollu Kunitha is a popular drum dance of Karnataka accompanied by singing. It provides both spectacular variety and complexity of skills in the process of demonstration. Woven around the presiding deity of Beereshwara or Beeralingeswara, chiefly worshipped by the Kuruba Gowdas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, also called Halumathasthas, it presents both entertainment and spiritual edification.

Contents

Background

In all temples of Beereshwara, it is a religious practice that the major instrument Dollu be hung in the premises of the temple by means of a thick thread tied up to the hooks fixed in the ceiling. Every time pooja is offered to Beereshwara, the custom demands that there should be an instantaneous beating of the Dollu as an accompanying act of worship. definition of folk art: Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic

History

Dollu Kunitha performed by women

Kuruba Gowdas sing in his lord Beereshwaras glory, giving an altogether different ring of intonation as distinguishable from the rest of other kinds of folk singers. Their ancestral pride is something, unconditional when they take to singing, tracing the origin of their genealogy, evolution and development over the ages. This expressive literature in its oral tradition goes by the legend called 'Halumatha Purana' or Kuruba Purana.

Tradition

Dollu dance has gone on uninterruptedly generation after generation with renewed vigour and raciness of performance. Hardly any religious performance of a ritualistic ceremony or any village festival can ever take place without this dance, especially in North Karnataka. On all these occasions, the Dollu dance becomes the very centre of activity around which other important things get built up. Since this dance demands strength, muscle power and the spirit of endurance, only well-built sturdy persons of enough stamina alone can take to it.

Story of Dollu

A demon Dollasura worshiped Shiva devotedly and Lord Shiva appeared before him and asked him to ask for a boon, Dollasura asked that he should be able to swallow Shiva himself. The boon was granted and Dollasura swallowed Shiva. Shiva started growing big. The asura unable to bear the pain pleaded Shiva to come out. Shiva tore open the demon thus killing him and came out, Shiva used the skin of the asura to make a dollu/drum and gave it to the ganas/rustics to play it.

The Troupe

The troupe consists of about a dozen artistes as dancing partners. Against the background we have tala, tappadi, trumpets, gong and flute, raised to a high-pitched tenor. These instruments are perforce used to reinforce the rich vibrations of Dollu. A miniature model of Dollu, easy to carry in hand, and handle it for beating – is often employed while singing a distinct class of songs-Dollu Songs/Drum Songs. Because there is beating of Dollu here by the fingers.

Other Forms

  • Devare Thatte Kunitha
  • Yellammana Kunitha
  • Suggi Kunitha
  • Alagu Kunitha

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Dollu — Contents 1 Meaning 2 Make 3 Origins 4 External links Meaning Dollu is a musical instrument similar to musical drums but several times bigger and heavier …   Wikipedia

  • Folk arts of Karnataka — Dances of Karnataka are one of the ancient dance forms existent in India. Most of the tribal dances are still in effect and enhanced also due to preservation and nature loving culture of Kannadigas. Contents 1 Kunitha A ritual dance 2 Classical… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Indian folk dances — Indian folk and tribal dances are simple dances, and are performed to express joy. Folk and tribal dances are performed for every possible occasion, to celebrate the arrival of seasons, birth of a child, a wedding and festivals. The dances are… …   Wikipedia

  • Art and culture of Karnataka — The southern state of Karnataka, in India, has a distinct art and culture. The diverse linguistic and religious ethnicities that are native to state of Karnataka combined with their long histories have contributed immensely to the varied cultural …   Wikipedia

  • Chikmagalur — This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Chikmagalur district. Chikkamagaluru   town   …   Wikipedia

  • Hubballi — Infobox Indian Jurisdiction native name=Hubballi locator position=right skyline=unkal1.jpg skyline caption=Unkal lake view latd = 15.3617|longd= 75.0849 state name=Karnataka district=Dharwad leader title=Mayor leader name= altitude=670.75 |… …   Wikipedia

  • Kuruba — Kurubas or Kurumas are Hindus concentrated mainly in the southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, India. They are also known as Dhangars in Maharashtra, Kurumba / Kurumans / Kurumbar in Tamil Nadu, Gaddi, Bharwad, (in North India),… …   Wikipedia

  • North Karnataka — Mirjan Fort in Uttara Kannada district North Karnataka (Kannada: ಉತ್ತರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ) is an arid plateau from 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) elevation in the Karnataka state of southwest India. It is drained by the Krishna River and its tri …   Wikipedia

  • Dharwad district — This article is about the district. For its eponymous headquarters, see Dharwad. Dharwad …   Wikipedia

  • Fireflies festival — The Fireflies Festival of Sacred Music is an annual music festival held at the Fireflies Ashram off Kanakapura road, Bangalore. It was previously known as Bhoomi Jathre. Description The stage is set under a large Banyan Tree in an open air… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”