- @Amrapali #txt-anno http://www.navhindtimes.com/story.php?story=2008112026 {u'ranges': [{u'start': u'/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]/div[1]/div[4]/div[2]', u'end': u'/div[1]/div[2]/div[1]/div[1]/div[4]/div[11]', u'startOffset': 0, u'endOffset': 0}], u'quote': u"Kaalo is one such folk form which is on the verge of being wiped off from Goa's soil. Kaalo is a form of folk theatre consisting of dialogues, songs and instrumental pieces. It also consists of fighting scenes between various characters. Wooden and cloth masks are the main centres of attraction. Each mask or an icon represents a mythological figure. To elucidate, a woodenhead of a swan signifies Shri Saraswati; the beautiful but a malicious looking mask of a woman represents \u2018Putnaa\u2019 (demoness).\n \t Kaalo appears to have been derived from the word \u2018Kaalaa\u2019 which means mixture. Various types of Kaalo include the \u2018Raat Kaalo', Dashaavataari Kaalo, Sankaasur Kaalo etc. Most of them are preformed in the night with the exception of few like Gavlann Kaalo or Chikhal Kaalo.\n \t This form of folk theatre includes the depiction of incarnations of Shri Vishnu. The central alley of the Sabhaamandap is used for its performance. Surprisingly, one finds a similarity in the musical compositions of Kaalo in all the talukas of Goa.\n \t It does not involve the participation of women. Men enact all the female characters. It includes various rhythmic dance movements based on the cymbals, harmonium and the \u2018Pakwaaz\u2019. The character called \u2018Haridaas\u2019 comperes and guides the audience through the various mythological scenes.\n \t It begins with an invocation to Shri Ganpati. He and his consort Riddhi and Siddhi are introduced in the first scene by Haridaas. In some villages jesters also form the part of the first scene. They wear wooden masks depicting funny faces. In Paingini and Panaskhande of Kankona taluka two jesters called the \u2018Kuddmaati\u2019 begin the Kaalo. Shri Vishnu took the incarnation of \u2018Matsy\u2019 (fish); to retrieve the Veds hidden by Shankaasur (demon) in the deep oceans. This is depicted in the second scene. Shankaasur is slayed and the Veds are returned to Shri Brahma, the creator.\n \t This Kaalo is traditionally called as \u2018Sankaasur Kaalo\u2019\n \t Putnaa is a character which the eagerly awaited by audience. The arrival of this character fills the Sabhaamandap with liveliness. The demoness takes the form of a charming woman and tries to kill little Krishna by breastfeeding him with her poisoned milk. Shri Krishna drinks the poison and kills Putnaa! This scene is known as \u2018Putnaa Vadh\u2019.\n \t Characters like Mhaataari (old widow) are seen in the Kaalo at Paingini. Poklo, Chichubai etc are some more interesting figures depicted in Shri Saateri temple of Keri, Ponda. Still many more, are encompassed in the Kaalo at Shri Anant temple of Savai Verem.\n \t It appears that some scenes and characters do not find a link with the others. Were these eliminated purposely? Or is it because that this ancient art is being forgotten? Today Kaalo has just become a formality in most of the temples. Many places it has almost stopped due to the dearth of actors and masks.", u'permissions': {u'read': [], u'admin': [], u'update': [], u'delete': []}, u'text': u'wooden-mask-dance becoming exitnct', u'tags': [u'Goa', u'kaalo-Folk-Dance', u'mask-dance']} created: Sun, 22 Feb 2015, 07:07 AM UTC