Dekhni Dance

                                                                     Dekhni Dance

Dekhni means 'bewitching beauty' in Konkani. This song and dance is performed by a row of girls or women only, carrying panttis (small earthen oil lamps). The dance gestures are based in traditional Indian classical dance.'Hanv Saiba Poltodi Vetam' (Sir, I am going across the river), one of the most popular songs, is about a devdasi (servant of God) girl who performs dances in temples and social ceremonies like weddings. She approaches a riverbank to take a ferry to the other sode where she has to dance at the wedding of 'Damu'. The boatman refuses and she pleads with him, even offering him her golden earrings anklet and so on. Only a few original dekhni songs remain.