Morulem

In Goa the men folk of Naik (Maratha) community perform the dance called Morulem which literally means a peacock. Each of the dancers wear a peacock feather on his headgear. The dance movements, however, do not always imitate that of a peacock. It is such a popular dance in Goa that now-a-days girls also have started participating in the dance. Though danced at any time of the year, it is particularly danced during the 5 day Shimoga festival held in the lunar month of Phalguna (February/March). The dancers, along with other villagers, go to each house and dance in the open courtyard to celebrate the festival. On the last day of the festival the dance is performed at an open place in the village. The accompanying musical instruments are : Peti, the harmonium; Mridanga, a drum with two faces (often the pair of Dugi-Tabla is played instead of Mridanga), Kansalem, large size gong, and Jhanj, the cymbals.