The Symphony of Darkness

Growing up in Mumbai meant being exposed to a variety of pop culture and media that consistently tried to portray a defined culture of various regions so beautifully that sometimes many dark aspects goes unnoticed.

India being a diverse country, food, folk culture and traditions differ from region to region. As every culture around the world, has good as well as bad characteristics, this time let me reveal some of the heartbreaking culture and customs which have been glorified over the years but in fact have hidden dark intentions.

Lavani also called as Tamasha, forms an enchanting song and dance, performed by only female dancers wearing nine yards saree called "Nauvari", flashy makeup and Ghungroos (ankle bells), being unfortunately considered as one of the folk dances of of Maharashtra. Noted for its powerful rhythm on dholak beats, this seduction called Lavani is performed in front of live audience. This Shringarik (erotic) genre of performance, the lyrics are often composed with delicate dance steps and gestures employed to convey erotic meaning. The outside bright and sensuous world of Lavani performers do indeed has a dark side within.

Credits: Pratha: The Indian School of Cultural Studies

Another dark tradition on the list is the practice of Devdasi, in which young girls are dedicated to the temple to earn religious merits but in reality forced into a life of prostitution, under the hope of achieving spiritual enlightenment. The issues related to gender identity, sexuality, and social oppression leads a devastating impact of the devadasi system on the lives of young girls, women and sometimes even men. This practice was officially banned in 1988, but is still carried out in certain areas in secret.

Credits: A still from the Marathi movie Jogwa that focuses on the Devdasi system

The origins of the Jari Mari dance are not well-known, but it is believed to have been influenced from Lavani. This dance is performed by women as well as men, and is often accompanied by traditional musical instruments such as the dholki and the tuntune. Some performers also carry a whip, called Korda, where they use it on themselves during the dance enduring it, as a way to please Goddess Lakshmi. The Jari Mari dance is often performed to celebrate weddings, festivals, and other social and religious occasions. However, the costumes worn by the dancers are often designed to be visually appealing, where they may be expected to perform suggestive movements that can be seen as objectifying.

The performers from all these arts often face social stigma and discrimination, compelling the further generations to enter the dark world willingly or unwillingly.

In the olden times, many Marathi movies were based on Tamasha that potrayed a bad social image of Maharashtrian folk culture. However, currently many Marathi movies now emphasis in bringing out the harsh realities that come along with the glamour of these arts, being passed down from generations thus creating awareness about the very unknown social issues.

The physical demands of these arts are significant, and many performers suffer from injuries and other health issues as a result of their work. In recent years, efforts have been made to promote these performing arts as a respected art forms. However, most of these people remain untouched with education and other employment opportunities, thus blindly following the ruthless conventional customs.

Do we really need to focus on developing these folk arts as cultural heritage of Maharashtra or we need to undertake measures for rehabilitation to rescue performers from the vicious dark web is still a huge controversy. Let me know about your opinions in the comments....