FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Akhil Sawant
In pop culture, the idea of feminism is confined to and associated mainly with female musicians and girl groups. The themes revolve around female empowerment and the impact has been seen to bring out change socially and politically. However, many times such movements occur on local level and unfortunately, go unnoticed as there is lack of glamour and wealth.
Ghumot as a percussion instrument is integral to Goa’s heritage for both Hindus and Christians that serve as an accompaniment during Goan folk and Mando music ensembles. In fact, the Goa government back in 2019, officially declared Ghumot as the State’s heritage instrument. However, its peak involvement is in the time of Ganesh Chaturthi during the performance of traditional prayers known as Aartis. The art of Ghumot aartis is usually a male-dominated one but there has been a welcoming change in recent years. An increasing number of all-female groups performing and participating in Ghumot Aarti competitions have risen lately.
Yuva Kala Mogi (YKM), a cultural youth group, based in the quaint village of Talaulim, Ponda, was formed in 2018 and the 15-member all-female counterpart was established last year. Initially, the women would play the instruments at the group’s common meeting point just for fun while the men practiced for the competitions in all seriousness. Some of the women would occasionally join in other women groups for their performances. And thus, the YKM members decided to have their own female aarti group.
“The idea of creating a women’s ghumot aarti group was of Sanvi Khandeparkar, me and other members of the group. Our primary intention to form the group was to participate in the Ghumot Aarti Competition organised by Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda. However, we have exceeded our own expectations and now along with participating in competitions, we also receive invitations by temples to perform there,” says Deepam Naik, one of the co-founders of YKM. The women were taught to play instruments by group members and were also aided by another group Shree Vairgai Navdurga Ghumat Aarti Mandal who lend them their instruments. Goa’s noted music producer, Sindhuraj Kamat, took great efforts to improve throw of voice, resonance and rectified the pace of all the main as well as chorus singers. All the hard work bore fruit as the group finished runners-up at Kala Mandir’s competition and CM Trophy and winning the competition organised by Lairai Mahila Ghumat Aarti Mandal, Shirgaon.
The group has received over 20 invitations to perform at the temples. The ensemble includes Sonali Naik (main vocalist), Divyata Naik, Riya Naik, Shrutika Naik, Siddhi Borkar, Ankita Borkar, Vruddhi Bhandankar, Akanksha Naik, Diksha, Akanksha Karambelkar (chorus singers), Vaishnavi Naik, Vaishnavi Naik, Saisha Naik, Saloni Naik, Shambhavi Sawant (Ghumot players), Bindiya Pokle (Shamel player) and Janvi Naik (Kasale player). The group is currently under the able tutelage of Vighnesh Naik.
Another group that is making a serious mark on the ghumot aarti scene is Ganpati Kala and Sanskrutik Sangh based in Torda-Paitona, Salvador do Mundo. Established 16 years ago, as an all-male music ensemble, the group was approached by numerous women artists in hopes to perform under their banner. While other Mahila Aarti Mandals have majority of young girl members, Ganapati Kala and Sanskrutik Sangh has 70 per cent of working women. Despite their tight work schedule, all women members take out time, late in the evening, to stay consistent with their practices. And unsurprisingly, the group shone at major competitions such as CM Trophy and All Goa Mahila Ghumat Aarti Spardha organised by Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir, Ponda.
However, the group’s biggest achievement lies in the response they have received from the general audience. The female ensemble has been invited to perform all over the State by major temples in a short span of time. So far, the group has performed for a staggering 35 times at temples as well as youth festivals. Although the hard work put into practices by males and females are the same, the prize money offered to both categories during competitions is a stark reminder that issue of equal pay goes beyond just white collar jobs.
On an average, the first prize winner for male category receives approximately Rs 15,000 whereas the same amount for female winners is Rs 5,000. Speaking out on this, the Ganpati Kala and Sanskrutik Sangh’s chief Sagar Naik says, “The maintenance for instruments, travelling to competition venues, costumes and all the other expenses are quite huge. The vigour and enthusiasm with which female groups practise and perform is at par with male groups. The less amount of prize money is probably due to less number of female ghumot aarti groups. I personally requested government officials, last year, to keep the prize money equal for both the categories which has been approved during their meeting. We will see the change hopefully this year as the number of female participants has gone up too.”
The demand to be part of the group was so strong that this year ‘Ganpati’ group will be making two different batches of women as accommodating all in one is simply not enough. Currently, the ensemble includes Pooja Naik, Tanvi Dalvi, Yukta Kumbhar, Sanika, Naik, Rashmita Naik, Rasika Naik, Neha Shirgaokar, Ayushi Nemlekar, Lata Naik, Sheetal Naik, Kashvi Sawant, Sakshi Naik, Nutan Kankonkar, Anisha Fadte, Shweta Bhonsle and Roshan Kalangutkar.
While the equal pay is hotly discussed topic in all the professions, money is one of the least interesting goals for Khandola-based group of Shree Vaghreshwar Aarti Mandal. Goa is progressive compared to most of the States but the taboos are still prevalent. One such taboo that the group battles with is that girls shouldn’t be playing Aartis and traditional instruments. “Maybe that’s the reason why we have such small number of girl groups in Goa,” says Shraddha Naik Gaonkar in a calm yet tenacious tone.
The group had similar beginning to that of other female aarti groups. At the beginning, girls would provide backing vocals while their brothers skillfully played the instruments. Eventually, it was decided to form an all-girl group as more interested candidates came forward to join. The group excelled and improved through multiple competitions but that hasn’t come easy. “We participated in almost all the major aarti competitions. It’s not easy especially when all the group members have different lifestyles. Some members are college students, some are working full-time jobs. There are few who after college work part-time jobs as well. And despite all that, we still try to make it to the practices. These practice sessions happen in the evening and many families object to girls going out at that hour of time. We’re a humble yet defiant group and we make it work,” signs off Gaonkar with a smile. The Vaghreshwar group consists of Saee Haldankar, Rutvika Naik, Rishva Naik and Aachal Naik on Ghumot, Simran Naik on Shamel, Sakshi Haldankar on Kasale and Vaishnavi Gaonkar as lead vocalist. The group’s chorus singers include Shraddha Gaonkar, Gauravi Naik, Anushka Mahale, Pratishtha Mahale, Madhu Bhatkande, Vividha Naik, Manaswi Gaonkar, Sulochana Gaonkar and Vaibhavi Gaonkar.
With Ganesh Chaturthi just around the corner, expect groups of talented women to exhibit their skills, strengths and prowess in
this unique art of Ghumot Aarti, native to Goa.
