Folk Dance of Barela Tribe :Gair

Folk Dance of Barela Tribe "Gair'

Background :  

Many types of tribes are found in the whole of India. All these tribes have been found in forests close to nature. Barela tribe is known for its culture, civilization and traditions since ancient times.  Barela tribe is a sub-caste of Bhil tribe which is spread in Madhya Pradesh especially in West Nimar and Maharashtra. 

This tribe is actually more progressive than Bhils and relatively less progressive than Bhilala. Khargone and Barwani districts of Madhya Pradesh are Barela tribe dominated areas.

Characteristics of the Barela tribe:

(1) Deep faith in their culture and traditions

(2) This tribe is a nature worshipper.

(3) Deep faith in their clan

(4) Special attention to their clan in marital relations

(5) The Barela tribe is staunchly opposed to outside marriages

(6) This tribe celebrates its traditional customs and festivals with great pomp.

Costume and lifestyle:

The costumes of the men and women of the Barela tribe are beautifully coordinated. Women wear various types of silver ornaments with Naati (8 meter plain sari with cotton border) and men wear some silver ornaments with dhoti kurta and turban.

Folk arts and dances of the Barela tribe:

The Barela tribe has many dimensions of folk arts and dances for centuries. On various occasions, different types of folk arts and dance music are organized in which materials and nature used in daily life are used as resources for beauty. Despite the lack of easily available means, the people here have preserved their culture and traditions by combining traditional folk arts with modernity.

"Gair Dance":

The Barela tribe celebrates various festivals throughout the year, out of which Holi is their main festival.They celebrate this festival with great pomp and show. Holi festival starts from the last Bhagoria Haat and is celebrated for five days. Materials for the Holika worship are bought at the Bhagoria Haat. The first Holika is burnt on the night of the last Bhagoria Haat, after which Holika is burnt for five days in different villages. The equipment for the Gair dance is put on from that day and the same equipment remains for the next five days. The equipment (costume) is worn after worshipping the temple as per the rituals.The Holi Gair (dancer) takes a vow for the happiness and prosperity of his family and becomes a Gair for the next five years. There is no fixed number of dead people in Gair. More than 20 men participate in a group. These dancers reach the village on the night of Holi burning in the village and after dancing the whole night, they present their dance in the morning and ask for Phaag. In the form of Phaag, the villagers give them grains, some money, jaggery, roasted gram dal, jaggery, sev, harkangan (sweet made of sugar) etc. kept in a bamboo basket.

Costumes: The dancers of this dance make Ghagra from Nati and wear blouse over it, wear V-shaped dhoti on both the shoulders, turban on the head. Turban and V-shaped dhoti are decorated by making flowers from ribbons. Silver ornaments like Battya, Vava, Aahdi etc. are worn on arms, wrists and neck. Some dancers wear women's costumes, some become bears. There is one Kali in the whole group who blackens her entire body and wears black clothes. She has a wooden Chata (a kind of big spoon) in one hand and a Supda in the other hand. And she wears a fishing net on her head as a shawl.A group of dancers is prepared with this type of costume. Every dancer dances with a sword in his hand.

Musical Instruments

Various types of traditional musical instruments are used in Gair dance. Gair dance is not possible without musical instruments. Some Adam Gair dances were performed with songs, music and musical instruments, but in modern times, as a melody, Gair produces the tune of Ho Ho Ho Ho from the mouth in between. The following types of musical instruments are used with Gair dance.

(1) Dhol:_ Dhol is the traditional musical instrument of the Barela tribe. It is a very large wooden instrument covered with leather. The player plays it by hanging it around his neck or by placing it on a wooden stand with a bamboo stick. This musical instrument is especially played during Holi, Bhagoria and Indal.

 (2) Pavi (Flute) Pavi is the most important musical instrument of folk dance. Without it, this folk dance is incomplete. It is also the favourite musical instrument of this tribe.

(3) Mandal: Mandal is the instrument played on most occasions by this tribe. This instrument is used especially in Holi, Bhagoria, marriages, mourning meetings and death rituals. Different tunes are played on different occasions.

(4) Thali: _ In ancient times, brass or bronze thali was used as a percussion instrument but nowadays steel thali is being used. Thali is played with beautiful tune in coordination with dhol, mandal and flute.

(5) Dholki (small drum) :_ This is a small wooden drum covered with leather. It is played along with the mandal.

(6) Tudli Putli: _It is a small drum-shaped instrument played on one side. It is played with both hands and hung around the neck with a thin bamboo stick.

In this way, the coordination of musical instruments with the folk dance performed by the Barela tribe on the occasion of Holi adds sweetness to the atmosphere, which makes everyone's heart dance. The Holi festival of West Nimar is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm with folk dance and traditional musical instruments.

Laxmi Chouhan

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