Ekvat em New Delhi

The EKVAT show in Delhi, on June 11, at the Azad Bhavan, organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, was a huge success, with a full house clapping in rhythm to the wonderful music that was played. Thank you for a great evening.

Goan tradition comes full circle

(Times of India) - Many years ago when the Portuguese arrived in Goa, their western culture had a deep influence on the natives. It was in Goa that Indian musicians are believed to have first incorporated western musical and dance forms into their compositions. A lot of Goans even migrated to Portugal in the hope of better education and livelihood.

The tradition seems to be coming full circle from India to Portugal and back to India. A Portuguese song and dance group, of Indian origin, called Casa de Goa's Ekvat Group, comprised people who migrated, are coming to perform in the city. The Kantar Goa programme has been organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The group will perform traditional Goan harvest dances including Deknnis and Mandos.

The group has given an Indian twist to the dance form of Deknnis by relating it to the Hindu god, Krishna. Dekhni in Konkani language means 'bewitching beauty'. This song-cum-dance was originally performed only by women. Set to western rhythms and Indian melody, it depicted the story of a devdasi (temple dancers) who has an appointment to go across the river to perform at a wedding. However, the boatman is adamant and will not take her across. As a bribe she offers her jewellery and later seduces him with her mesmerising dance.

In Ekvat Group's version of the dance, they have introduced a male dancer in the form of Krishna holding a flute. "Krishna is a Hindu god, but he reminds us of the roots we have in India," says Virginia Bras Gomes, a singer from the group. "The setting has been changed and does not include the boatman and the devdasi anymore. Along with Krishna there are many Gopis who are enjoying the act of dancing and romancing."

As a matter of fact, one of the very famous Deknnis songs titled Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetami also found its way into the Hindi film industry when it was adapted by Raj Kapoor as Na mangoon sona chandi for the film Bobby.

The Mandos dance form is traditionally considered elite and was performed at grand celebrations, special functions and weddings. It consists of 'real' love songs which have slow melody and luminous imagery.

"During the migration, many Goans decided to settle down in Portugal forever. So there were stories of longing for the native land and broken hearts and romances. Mandos is a reflection of those feelings," says Gomes.

Ekvat Group has 25 members. Only 4 members of the group were born in Goa. Rest of them were born in Portugal to Indian parents. The group was founded in 1989 in Lisbon (Portugal) with the objective of making traditional music and dances of Goa known to a wider audience, specially the younger ones to discover the ancestral culture. "If the young don't keep your tradition alive, it's ultimately going to vanish.

We are doing our part so that we can transmit it and possibly get the young generation to continue it," says Gomes.

Ankit.Ajmera@timesgroup.com

Embaixada de Portugal em New delhi