Potka (East Singhbhum), Dec. 6: It was with a sense of relief that tribals today let go of a few age-old traditions of Firkal, the martial tribal dance of the Bhumij tribe.

Today onwards, the traditional training ground of Firkal, the cremation ground of the locality, will be replaced by the akhara situated on the outskirts of the village.

The age-old practice of rehearsing and imparting training to the next generation about the dance during the month before Sankranti festival at the cremation ground was also done away with.

These changes were not done with a heavy heart, but on the contrary, with joy by the tribals, as they celebrated Firkal?s adoption by the Sangeet Natak Akademi?s (SNA)

The SNA, the apex body for the promotion and preservation of dance and drama in the country, decided to adopt Firkal in the last week of November.

The year-long training programme sponsored by the SNA, under the guidance of Firkal guru Laxman Sarda, was inaugurated by the state culture secretary N.N. Sinha at the akhara of Janumdih village in Potka Block.

Laxman Sardar, who will conduct the training programme for SNA, revealed that Firkal is performed exclusively by the males of the Bhumij tribe to depict valour.

It depicts the heroics of a war and how warriors saved their clan and homeland.

The dance is performed by male members of the tribe to show their valour during hunting wild animals.

It also serves to arouse a sense of male valour in others.

Local coordinator of SNA Amitav Ghosh, revealed that for the first year, the akademi has decided to give scholarship to 10 artistes including the guru.

Ghosh said the initiative taken by the akademi will also give an international platform to Firkal.