A local group performs the Firkal dance at Gopal Maidan. Picture by Uma Shankar Dubey

Jamshedpur, Nov. 15: The Sangeet Natak Academy (SNA) has decided to provide financial assistance to one of the near extinct forms of Advisai dance.

SNA has communicated to the deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum Nidhi Khare that it would grant an aid of Rs 1 lakh for the revival of Firkal dance of the tribals.

“It would help this form of tribal dance, which is on the verge of extinction, to flourish,” said Khare, adding that SNA has agreed to provide funds for a certain period for preserving the dance form.

SNA is the second agency that has shown interest in Firkal dance. Earlier, the Association for Indian Development (AID) in United States had agreed to give financial support to this dance form by pledging Rs 1.21 lakh.

Like SNA, AID would also provide funds in a phased manner. The Firkal form of tribal dance was initially practised by almost every tribal community of the state. But gradually while other Adivasi communities gave up this dance, the Bhumij community continued to keep this dance form alive.

“The male residents of Jamudih, comprising 27 families, in Potka block of East Singhbhum, are the only ones in the entire state who practice Firkal. We had taken the initiative to ensure that this rare form of tribal dance stays alive. The district administration too came forward and due to the joint efforts we could mobilise funds for the betterment of this dance,” said a senior functionary of Jamshedpur Kala Mandir, Amitava Ghosh.

The Firkal dance is a primitive tribal war-dance in which the dancers are armed with traditional weapons like bows and arrows, swords and spears. Gradually this dance form receded to the background as the tribals’ dependence on forests and animals for hunting reduced drastically.

“We simply cannot give up this form of dance,” said Birendra Nath Bhumij, one of the senior members of Bir Adim Khirwal Samity of Jamudih village, the only organisation of the village whose members are involved this dance form.

“Firkal is related to our ancestors whom we worship even now. Since our ancestors too practised and performed this dance, it is simply unimaginable for us to give up this dance,” Bhumij said.

Firkal is performed by the members of Bir Adim Khirwal Samity in the village at night after makar sankranti in January every year.

“It is the greatest event for us each year and we start practising for it from November,” the Samity member said.

The group of Jamudih village which performs this dance has been selected to stage a performance in Ranchi on November 17 as part of second anniversary celebrations of the state.

This group was also given the honour to stage the first show at the cultural extravaganza at Gopal Maidan this evening.

Amitav Ghosh of Jamshedpur Kala Mandir said AID has said the amount that they have earmarked for the group should be spent on their equipment and training.

“AID had agreed to provide the funds about one-and-half years ago. But due to problems in Foreign Exchange Regulatory Act (FERA), the funds were stuck up. But Nidhi Khare took the initiative to overcome the problem,” the Kala Mandir functionary added.