Gaur Maria dance of Madhya Pradesh the spectacular dance performance symbolizes the hunting spirit of the tribe, since the word `Gaur` means a ferocious bison. The announcement or invitation for a dance is given by making sound with a bamboo trumpet or a horn. The men folk in the presence of flutes and drums make their entry in the dancing arena, by wearing headdresses that are frilled with stringed `cowries` and plumes of peacock feathers fastened to them.
Generally, women are adorned with brass fillets and bead necklaces over their bodies along with the painted tattoos; join to the dancing place soon. They carry dancing sticks called Tirududi in their right hands and tap them according to the drumbeats. They perform in their own groups by the side of the male members. Sometimes, they also take the liberty to cross and re-cross in between the groups of male dancers and drummers. The jingling anklets of the dancers truly correspond to the songs of their lips as they move further in dancing.
By beating the drums, tossing of the horns and feathers of their headgears, as per the rising tempo, the men give the dance a wilder touch in appearance. The men with drums usually move in a circular direction with creating a variety of dancing patterns. In the bison dance, they attack one another and chase the female dancers. The Marias imitates a number of bison movements in the dance performance; most of them perform like frisky bulls, hurling wisps of grass into air, charging and tossing horns. This dance performance is engaged with chanting of many words in loud voice for inspiration in dancing.
(Last Updated on : 5/01/2009)