Kedu Dance
Region : Tribal Areas of Orissa
Celebrated By : Kondha Tribe
Performance Occasions : Kedu Festival
Significance : Kedu is celebrated in continuance of Meriah festival.
Kedu dance of the ‘Kondhas’ performed on the occasion of ‘Kedu’ festival is a continuance of ‘Meriah’ festival. The ‘Meriah’ (human) sacrifice of the Kondhas, a notable event in history and the most popular tradition of the tribe perhaps surpassing others, has been substituted by Kedu sacrifice retaining the other aspects of rituals as they were.
This dance is ritualistic in character connected with the ceremony in honour of “Dahrani Penu” who is believed to be the bestower of good fortune, good crops, protector of the people and their livestock. The people have the belief that sprinkling of blood and blood stained face of Kedu (buffalo) in the turmeric field reddens the colour of turmeric like blood.
In this performance women dancers standing in a semi circle and holding each other in their hands on each other shoulder while the male members sing songs and play on the drums and flutes. The musical instruments used are ‘Dhol’, ‘Changu’, ‘Nishan’ and ‘Mahuri’ and the songs in ‘Kui’ language are mainly devotional.
