Phugadi.

Phugadi.

There are a number of dances performed on this occasion, the most popular and prominent being the phugadi. It is played generally by two but the number may even be up to eight if there is enough room. The dance movements of the pair are simple: The girls stand facing each other, keep their feet together with a distance of two or three inches between the toes, cross arms keeping them straight with a clasp of each other's palms, balance the body backward, and each time stepping the right foot a few inches to the right and sliding the left along with it start an anti-clockwise movement. As the footwork quickens, the movement gathers in tempo till the dancers get swung in a whirl. This goes on till one or both feel exhausted. There are many varieties of phugadi In dand-phugadi, instead of clasping palms they catch hold of the arms. In another, one stands while the other squats. In a variety known as jate, one is standing while the other keeps only the left or right toes on the ground, the other foot being placed on the opposite thigh. In bas-phugadi which is danced singly the dancer squats on toes and moves her legs forward alternately. With only one hand joined in a clasp the variety is known as ekhataci phugadi.

Group phugadis are danced by girls forming a ring either by crossing arms and catching palms of the neighbour on either side or by putting their arms on the shoulders of their neighbours. They move in a circle by taking short sideward steps generally in an anticlockwise direction. Group phugadi in a way though spectacular is cumbrous and lacks the vigour marked in a partnered phugadi.

Besides phugadis a variety of allied dance forms are displayed at a Manglagaur, e.g. naca-go-ghuma, a group dance danced by a girl known as ghuma [A girl who feigns unwillingness to join the dance.] standing with a sup (winnowing fan) in the centre of a circle formed by other girls. The ghuma, as she puts forth her complaints to the company alternately raises and lowers the sup before her face and also alternately raises her feet slightly changing direction each time; girls standing around her catch hold of the palms of their neighbours and move round taking short sideward steps keeping to the time of the song. Kombda is a sort of memetic dance, performed individually or in a group. The dancers place one knee over the other and keeping the palms interlocked on the upper knee go on jumping imitating the movements of a kombda (cock). Other dances performed at the time of Mangldgaur celebration are pinga, zimma, salunki salunki or pagadaphu, kis-bai-kis, kathot-kana and many others.