Dhalo-a Goan folk dance

hi everyone.Today i would like to write about "Dhalo",which is a popular dance in Goa.Goa has a rich cultural heritage and traditional folksongs and dances form an important part of this cultural heritage of Goa.Goa has many types of traditional folk dances like fugdi,lamp dance,dekhni etc.All these dances are famous in Goa and mostly practiced in rural areas."Dhalo" is one of these dances which is well known and is important part of the Goan culture.This dance is performed only by women.It is a way of worshiping Mother earth for protecting our houses."Dhalo" is performed in the hindu month PAUSHA on moonlit night.It is mostly celebrated for 5,7 or 9 days.
For performing this dance women of any age group can participate.They form 2 parallel rows or semicircle with mostly 12 women in a row.All women in one row form a link between themselves with arm around the back arrangement.They sing mostly konkani or sometimes marathi songs in unison while dancing.The dance basically involves prancing backward and forward.The place where "Dhalo" is performed is referred as "Dhalyacho mand" which simply means in an open space.The "mand" is considered to be a sacred place and wearing footwear in "mand" is not allowed.

The festival begins on full moon day which is called as "Dhalyachi poonav".The dhalo songs are mostly dedicated to nature and often refer to the flora and fauna.The songs sometimes also reflect the stories of their day to day life and their affection with nature.The dhalo comes to end with an even called "mand shimpane" which mean sprinkling water on the "mand".