HEJJE MELA
Hejje
Mela (hejje mELa) (ಹೆಜ್ಜೆ
ಮೇಳ) is a variety of folk dance prevalent among rural
folk of
The performing troupes consist of
even number of participants and usually they dance in pairs. The dancing
artists wear white shirts, dhotis tied up to their knees, a colored waist band
and a white/red turban. They hold a stick in their right hand and an yellow
colored kerchief in the left. Occasionally Kerchiefs are held in both hands.
Anklets that are worn invariably, produce a jingling sound which adds to the
charm of the dance.
The first member of the dancing pair
puts his steps in a pre determined manner and the second dancer indulges in
appropriate jumps. After a while these
roles are exchanged. However at a given point of time all the artists in the
troupe will either be jumping or performing steps. This dance consists of
various steps such as one step (ond hejje), double step (eraDhejje), simple
step (sAdA hejje), suttu kOl hejje etc. ‘suttu kOl hejje’ and ‘hadinAru baski)
are the most complex and attractive among these acts. In ‘suttu kOlATa’,
artists standing in two rows wave the sticks held in one of their hands and tap
the sticks held by their companions. All this takes place to the tune of
musical instruments.
‘HadinAru
baski’ is a unique item in Hejje Mela. This involves a grouping of the artists
in to batches of four. The artists jump over one another backwards and
forwards. This requires extreme skill, agility and control.
Instruments such as drums (tamaTe), tablaa, cymbals
(tALa) and harmonium are used to provide the back ground score. The leader of
the troupe is also the singer and he plays on the tablaa and cymbals. Once in a
while the songs are replaced by the melody of Shehnai. The artist plays the
tunes of popular songs on Shehnai. Hejje Mela which is usually performed during
the Muharrum festival is performed by Hindu artists also. Thus it has become a
symbol of communal harmony.