Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji (RS)

Panaji, Sep 11: Goans are trying to salvage its sagging women folklore – Fugadi, which is feared to have lost ground with the modernization.

Taking up the cudgels the state sponsored organizations like Rajiv Kala Mandir and Kala Academy have carved out special competitions to encourage this dance form of art, which, hitherto, rules rural Goa.

“It is a medium of expression for women folk for ages. We are taking up all the required steps to ensure that this form does not fade away,'' Pandurang Faldesai, member secretary, Kala Academy, stated.

Fugadi, which was usually played in the holy courtyard designated in every village, takes centre-stage during Ganesh Chaturthi celebration in Goa when women folk perform it before the elephant-headed God.

Goa will celebrate five-day-long Ganesh Chaturthi festival from Saturday September 15.

Terming it as “creative expression or cultural expression,” Phaldesai who himself is an authority in fugadi art, said that this form is getting recognition even in the younger generation. “It is not fading away. People are still playing fugadi,” he defended.

The state government-run institutions like Rajiv Kala Mandir, which has been holding all-Goa Fugadi competition for last four years, this year, received whopping response from the women groups. Around 4,000 women from across the state participated in this twelve-day long fugadi extravaganza.

“We had 357 groups participating in the competition. The response was mind blowing. Right from 17 years to 70 years, the fugadi is being played by almost everyone,” Vishnu Wagh, vice-president of Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir said.

Wagh stated that bringing fugadi from rural to urban areas will go a long way in retaining its popularity. “We have to work towards preserving our folklore. We cannot let it be lost with time,” he said.

While elder generation feels that fugadi is much an integral part of the culture, the younger lot performs it for different reason. “It is a good body exercise. You can be fit forever if you perform fugadi,” Twinkle Mainekar, member of Sateri Mahila Mandal, Nirankal in south Goa, stated.

Clad in traditional saree and wearing ornaments, women perform fugadi which spans in 27 different kinds. “It was always thought that fugadi is an art performed by elderly ladies. But since the day, we started performing, we find it as a fun,” Mainekar stated.

Creation of self help groups and mushrooming of mahila mandals (women organizations) in the state have helped to boom this folklore. Goa's politicians, who have pumped in all their efforts to sponsor women voters to get together and form self help group during June, two state legislative assembly elections, are finding their efforts being snowballed into fostering this folklore.

“We do not shy away from performing fugadi. While self help group is meant for financial empowerment of women, we also play fugadi. Work and fun goes hand in hand,” commented Prajakta Marathe, hailing from remote Sattari taluk.

After getting recognition for this art, the experts feel that they have a rather difficult task at their hands. “This is a high time to take up certain measures so that there should not be distortion or commercialization,” Phaldesai said.