Bishop Joins in the Joy of the People/ KANJIA

A DANCE WITH THE PEOPLE
BISHOP THEODORE MASCARENHAS SFX PARTICIPATES FULLY IN THE JOYS AND SORROWS OF HIS PEOPLE.-Here he dances with them.
Dance is an important representation of culture and art in all societies. When it comes to Adivasi/indigenous communities, dance not only plays a central role in their identity formation but also in communicating their worldview. There is a popular proverb among Oraon Adivasis, which goes, “Ekna dim tokna, Baa’na dim parna,” meaning, “Walking is dancing and talking is singing.”
Among the Adivasi communities of India, dance is an inalienable part of their rituals, customs, and culture. It is not just cultural expressions of the community, but a reflection of their philosophy and more importantly, it is a repository of their collective knowledge and wisdom.
here are thousands of dance traditions, but Adivasi dance forms stand apart because of their strong connection with the culture of collectivism. The symbolic message of “working together, living together and dancing together” is communicated to all community members through their beautiful songs and dances.
A distinctive feature of Adivasi dance is that it is a non-spectator performance where all members irrespective of their age, gender or religion come together as a group with highly synchronised beautiful body movement to the rhythm of Mandar or Nagada.


Unlike other traditional dances in the Indian subcontinent, Adivasi dances are never an individualistic indulgence but are performed in large groups with complex coordination of body movements by all members. It is important to note that all members of the dancing group are connected to each other through body touch, either by holding hands or gently touching the waist. The sense of rhythm and movement is communicated to each other through these connections of touch. Body touch among Adivasi dancers also builds feelings of trust and togetherness among its group members.