Goans are trying to salvage its sagging women folklore `Fugadi’ which feared to get lost with the modernisation.
Taking up the cudgels, the state sponsored organisations like Rajiv Kala Mandir and Kala Academy have carved out special competitions to encourage this dance form of art, which, hitherto, rules rural Goa.
“It is a medium of expression for women folk for ages. We are taking up all the required steps to ensure that this form does not fade away,” Pandurang Faldesai, member secretary, Kala Academy, said.
Fugadi, which was usually played in the holy courtyard designated in every village, takes centre-stage during Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Goa when women folk performs it before the elephant-headed God.
Goa will celebrate five day long Ganesh Chaturthi festival from Sept.15 onwards.
Terming it as “creative expression or cultural expression,” Phaldesai, who himself is an authority in fugadi art, said that this form is getting recognition even in the younger generation.
“It is not fading away. People are still playing fugadi,” he defends.
The state government run institutions like Rajiv Kala Mandir, which has been holding all Goa Fugadi competition for last four years, this year received whopping response from the women groups. Around 4,000 women from across the state participated in this twelve day long fugadi extravaganza.
“We had 357 groups participating in the competition. The response was mind blowing. Right from 17 years to 70 years, the fugadi is being played by almost everyone,” Vishnu Wagh, vice-president, Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, said.
- The Hindu
