GhotulPito: Gondi culture and dance forms among Raj Gonds

Gond tribes (Tribes known as Adivasi) are spread across Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and are also in Madhya Pradesh. Interestingly, the Gondi language belongs to the Dravidian family of languages and is related to Tamil and Kannada. Recent excavation of the Gondi lipi at Gunjal Village, Narnurmandal of Adilabad District states the gerontology of this language could be older than Dravidian languages like Tamil, Kannada, or Telugu, or perhaps the origin of these languages could be traced through Gondi language too.

Adilabad District of Andhra Pradesh is a Hub of Gonds, Kolams, Andha, Pradhan, Thoti, Nayakpod, and other primitive tribes. Gonds dominate in number over other tribes. According to Pradhan-Subsect of Gond tribes are professional storytellers -oral narrators. The origin of gonads is believed that after giving birth to children, a mother abandoned them and it was the goddess Parvati rescued them, but her consort Sri ShambhuMahadev (Shiva) who kept them captive in a cave. PahandiKapar Lingo, a Gond hero, who received help from the goddess JanguBai, rescued them from the cave. They came out of the cave in four groups, thus laying the foundations of the basic fourfold division of Gond society. Lingo also is responsible for creating a Gond kinship system and establishing a group of great Gond gods.

 Tribes are known for their own culture, beliefs, rituals, worship and tribal beat, and unique tribal dance across the globe. This is true with Gonds also. However, the dances and beats differ and go according to the celebrations and festivity.  Both males and females join together and dance during festivities, marriage, or during tribal cultural meet.

Folklore:

During the recent Gondi lipiDarbar held at Gunjal village in the month of February 2013, I came across ‘GotulPito’- a Learning Centre or to say a Gurukul wherein young boys and girls are admitted from the age of 3 -18 years. Here the Community elders motherly and fatherly take care of the children. Here, all the children undergo schooling more like training about Gond origin, Clan classification, Gondi culture, Myths, Beliefs, worship, marriage, customs and practices, herbs, and healing practices. Along with this, they are trained in sixteen forms of dance forms, playing 18 musical instruments,

Gonds celebrate most festive occasions with song and dance. In some instances, such as with the Dandari dancers, dances retell events from Gond mythology. At other times, dances are performed simply for fun. Dhulia is a professional musician caste and Pardhans (bards) preserve legends, myths, and history, passing these traditions on from generation to generation. Gonds also enjoy assembling on full-moon nights to sing and dance. Cockfighting is a favorite pastime.

Both men and women enjoy wearing heavy silver ornaments. Women also like to wear coloured glass bangles and marriage necklaces made of small black beads. They often tattoo their bodies.

700 Ekmasuru Pen- 900 Betal pen

16 Dhemas and 18 Vadyalu

64 kalalu:32Malayu

The sixteen dance forms are: Divided into God-Goddess Worshipping, marriage and festivity, and Death ceremony.

1. Pen Dhol

2. Pen Yehaval

3. Seyvida  penyehaval

4. MarmiDhol

5. SaanaDhol- Death event

6. Sathik

7. LagadingDhol.

8. Gerava

9. Dhemsa

10. Duraadi

11. Bheemadhol.

12. BhuriDhol.

13. BhovaniDhol

14. AvanaDhol

15.Nouri-NauraYehaval

16. KodaKurusa.

Eighteen Vadhyalu-Instruments

Ø      Dhol,

Ø      Para,

Ø      Turupudi,

Ø      Turumu,

Ø      Dappu,

Ø      Gumela,

Ø      Sanayi,

Ø      Kikiri, 

Ø      Kalikom,

Ø      Tura,

Ø      Suludi (flute),

Ø      Jatur,

Ø      Karnat (kinnera),

Ø      Dapali,

Ø      Talams,

Ø      Gajjelu,

Ø      Mandar,

Ø      Timki,

Ø      Dhakki-Damaru or Oggu.

v     Sanai, kikiki and kalikom- pradhan. Kikiri during Deva Puja and Death time played.

1.       Marmidhol-

 A.Kaje- Dance performed by the ladies of the bride’s side who sing and dance to the Kaju-Cobre event. They describe to the bride about marriage event, the guest who have come, and the history of the groom's family and also the parental house.

(UlingJawa: This is at the entrance of the village border when the bride is taken along Uling-Uli-onion and Jawa are made out of jowar flour. The songs and dance describe the status, respect, and capabilities of the ambassador from the groom's side that come to receive the bride and her family).

(Janvasa-rest house: The house belongs to the bride’s uncle's house which is vacated for the marriage the bride takes a rest in the village. Here, a description of every article is done in the form of songs and dance. )

Groom side:

B. Yerdolsval: Giving a scared bath to the groom. Here, the description is in the holy water that is carried from a distance and the origin of the water source. 2.  SadarYerDolsval: Holy bath given to the groom by the entire village families. If 125 families in a village then, they give a bath to the groom by wishing all well and prosperity in life. This is a fun activity and on the other side, it also highlights the intimacy shown by the villagers and intimate families towards the groom and grooms family.

C. Penedhube: The priest who performs the marriage called Devari goes along with villagers to bring sacred water from GovardhanGotam where they collect water from one big water pot into five parts and burn five lamps to the marriage matchup.

D. LagadiDhol:  Dance is performed by men at Govardhangotam. Then both bride and groom meet at govardhangotam. The groom left little finger and the bride's right light finger crossed is held and go to mantap.

E. Yerdolsval at mantap: The holy water collected in five pots is poured by sisters-in-law on the groom and bride.

F. Nouri-NauraYehaval- YethiYehaval .  Bolo surasval: Ladies with aarthitabulam goes with dancing to the marraiagemantap at Marriage is During marriage brother-in-laws carry both bride and bridegroom and go around dancing. To establish communication burka (Haldi powder) which is given to both bride and bridegroom, and they throw it on each other.

G. Deva-Devi- Persa Pen is introduced to the bride by the groom.

H. Gerava- ladies during the marriage in the evening. Ladies going around in a circle. Songs on Agriculture song, trees, and nature. This is a questioning and guessing answers type.

I. Dhemsa- by the male. It is about respect for the place and rituals

J. KondaKurasa: sister-laws from both sides Kodakukudi (Horse –Cock dance play). this is done after the wedding in the evening when Bride and groom are taken for worship at the at GovardhanGotam –it is an area demarcated during the marriage for all the community members to assemble. KodaKukudi  -KodaKurusa (Gondi language).

2. God-Goddess worshipping called the Pen

A. Pen Dhol

B.  Pen Yehaval –This is common to all

C. Seyvida penyehaval (Parasa pen celebration-during pushya month and vaishakam-January and May)  seyvida pen- 5th clan who plays and slightly rhythms.

D. Sathik-Goddess festival-Dance by ladies, Dhol beating by males.

E. Duraadi- Holi day- pournima by men during kamanudhahanum.

The holy ash is then placed in the thresh hold of each house in peace.

F. Bheemadhol-ChenchiBheemalMarmi- Dhol (Chaitra month on New moon day. Once in a year Beema God who is Kaliyugapurushudu is married to Samlayi (Smaleshwari of Sambalpur) and Bommalayi Goddess (Bommaleswari of Chhattisgarh) they are twins and who vow to marry Bheem.

G.BhuriDhol.-(Bhuri Goddess dances during pushyamasa. Kolams are performed once in three years- kattu (Bring the Goddess into life)  is done every year to safeguard children from measles.

H.BhovaniDhol- During Chaitra and Vaishakkam for Goddess Bhavani

I. AvanaDol-Chaitra month to Goddess Jangubai, Natinaval , Mariaval. First worshipping the goddess before the wedding. It is a must for all

3. Saana Dhol- Death event-A.Funeral procession and –

B. Sarun- Jagurula  Dol funeral time. Village head man or great persons are given sacred fire as honour and the rest are buried.

Conclusion:  Rich Gondi culture, beliefs, practices, and dance forms all are getting intermixed with non-tribal myths and rituals. Perhaps, with this intermixing the original Gondi rituals and ritualistic practices are further getting diluted, diminishing, and disappearing too.

At present due to the advent of the English language and the English medium of Education in schools and colleges, the Gondi speaking among Gonds also is coming down. Most of the Gonds now speak Telugu, Marathi, or Hindi instead of Gondi at home. So, the next generation would perhaps not be in a position to speak the language. This would mark the beginning of the death of the Gondi language. Secondly, Gonds are now fascinated by the non-tribal ritual practices and adopting them. Thus, unheard rich practices shall get buried unnoticed.

Following was the paper presentation made National Conference On ‘Dalit and Adivasi Literature & Art’  Organized by the Centre for Dalit & Adivasi Studies and Translation (CDAST) & Centre for Dalit Literature and Art, New Delhi Supported by ICSSR, New Delhi, University of Hyderabad Seminar Conference May 2-3, 2013