BARIPADA:Rituals vary, but there is a thread of similarity that binds the Durga Puja festivities across the country. The zest, spirituality, devotion and cheers remain unaltered. Soaked in the festive spirit, tribals in Mayurbhanj also worship the Goddess of power in their own distinctive style.
Untouched by commercialism, the tribals celebrate Durga Puja with a rustic charm. Be it through the rhythmic tapping of feet or by wearing bright costumes, they impart an indigenous look to the festival here. Worshipping the Goddess as a symbol of immense power, the Santhals here perform ‘Dansaye’ dance during the festival. They offer prayers to the Goddess through this traditional dance form.
The Bhanja rulers of the erstwhile princely state of Mayurbhanj were the patrons of the tribal culture. They had once showered their benevolence on the ‘Dansaye’ too. The dance is performed by groups of artistes, who come from various corners of the State. Dressed in bright coloured attires, they dance to the soothing tunes of traditional musical instruments, including Cymbal, Bhuang and flutes.
Bhuang is a stringed instrument made from small portions of dried bamboo and gourd or disembowelled melon. It has intricate bamboo fixtures and supports that help in producing tunes, locally dubbed as ‘Lau Tamba.’ According to historians, natives used to perform the dance during the five-day-long festival at the ornate Lion Gate of the palace here, popularly known as ‘Rajbati.’
On the day after Dussehra, the Raja would present a giant-size laddoo and a bright coloured new piece of cloth to the dancers as gifts.“Several customs have been abandoned since the Kings’ rule came to an end. Today, the tribals in Baripada are struggling hard to keep this culture alive,” Bibhudutta Das, a social activist, said.he royal gifts or patronage is not there today. But, small groups of dancers perform in individual houses in Baripada town and accept whatever gifts the locals present them.“Dansaye was performed with more vigour and enthusiasm during the King’s rule. Today, film music has diluted the traditional charm of the dance form. Thus, the tradition is on the verge of extinction,” former Zilla Parishad president Prakash Soren said.