Dance Home | Natya | Tandav | Fine Arts | Dances | Costumes | Innovations | Folk Dances

This is the beginning. Men - young and old - tie the jingle bells and start the dance. As and when the 'tamate' (Drum) player changes the rhythm the dancers follow him accordingly and finally they come to a halt when the drum beats stop. Then the dancers remove their bells and the assembled people start a question and answer session in which they show their respective knowledge of poetry.  

Some put on costumes and start comic dances and witty conversation. This, in short, is a time for rejoicement and merry-making.

Kamsale Nritya :
In the Eastern Ghats of Karnataka, there is a very famous sacred mountain temple called Madeshwasra Temple or Sri Male Mahadeshwara Temple. The devotees of this lord are called 'Devara Guddaru'. The deity in the temple is usually called 'Elu Maleya Mahadeva' and around the temple live these 'Devara Guddaru' people. They get consecration and initiation in the name of this god and become protagonists of religion.

As a prayer to the Lord, they hold in their hands, a specially made bronze or brass palm-size cymbals and dance in varied patterns striking the cymbals called 'Kamsale' and hence the name 'Kamsale' Nritya' or 'Dance of the Cymbals'. At first, they worship the Kamsale (cymbals and start dancing simultaneously playing the cymbals. The singer is supported by a person who plays the 'Ektar' or one-stringed instrument and by another who plays 'Dammadi' or a drum.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5


Disclaimer

Copyright © 2009 shamaandfriends.com