State celebrates Godemodni festival

TEAM HERALD

bureau@herald-goa.com

BICHOLIM: The folk dance of Godemodni, which is famous all over the State, was performed at Bordem-Bicholim on Wednesday.

The dance reflects the rich tradition of warfare inherited by the Maratha community that migrated from the Ghat region with horses, swords and better techniques of warfare.

Legend has it that the brave soldiers would be rewarded in the form of special clothes, swords or horses. These soldiers would then celebrate this occasion clad in royal clothes by taking a round in the village on horseback.

Depicting this tradition, Godemodni as a folk dance was performed at Bordem-Bicholim on Wednesday. Four persons fastened inside hobby-horses below their waists, brandishing swords executed a war-like dance to the beats of Dholak and Tasha. The dance started from Bordem and ended at Shantadurga High School.

The dance was also performed in other parts including Sattari taluka, Sarvan, Mulgao, Ladfe and Kharpal in Bicholim taluka, Hankhane, Ibrampur and Morjim in Pernem taluka and Dharge in Dharbandora taluka. In neighbouring Maharashtra, it is observed in Sasoli, Virdi, Matne and Ambadgao.