Katkhel.

The katkhel (kathi — a stick; khel — dance) dance is a stick dance popularly played during Holi festival by Kunbis of north Ratnagiri. The traditional dress of the performers consists of Maratha type turban secured over the head with a red-bordered dhoti tied crosswise its loose ends fluttering over the back; a shirt with long sleeves covers the trunk, and across the chest a dhoti with red border is crossed and knotted at the back; a sadi of red or blue border is wrapped by the dancer over his dhoti or pyjama with a number of folds round the waist so that the thighs are entirely covered with the border of the sadi. They fasten chains of jingles at their ankles. In their hands they hold a pair of tipris and a bunch of white fibres, which sway with the movements of the tipris and add to the grace of the dance. A mrdang and a pair of cymbals are the only instruments used.

The formation, as a rule, is circular, members standing in pairs and facing each other. Only in davan and bhilkavada they move generally, in an anti-clockwise direction, keeping time with a pair of tipris held in the hands. Some of the movements, though more vigorous and quick, resemble those of the tipri dance. The beginning is always in a slow tempo and it has to be so, since they are moving back to back. When a line is being repeated, the speed increases and to facilitate free movement they take a zigzag course. They once strike the tipris against each other and then strike them with those of the advancing member. At times they squat and turn about keeping time with their strikes to the beat of the drum. In davan they move in a figure eight; in bhilkavada they pass under one another, the arms being chained.