In India, many tribal communities have survived over the years. One such popular tribal community is the Siddi community. The Siddis of Karnataka are an ethnic group that descended from the Bantu-speaking people of Southeast Africa. They were introduced to the country by Portuguese merchants about 400 years ago.
Reportedly, more than a third live in the northern parts of Karnataka. They speak their language called Siddi Basha, and as they have lived in Karnataka for many years, they are also quite fluent in Kannada. The News18 reporting team has explained the culture of the Sidhi tribes.
According to reports, dance and music have been an integral part of their cultural identity. They are widely known for their expressive dance form, Siddi Dhamal, which portrays their community life and how they have survived in the forests for so many years. Siddis give a lot of importance to the clothes they wear, especially while they are performing Dhamal. The speciality of the saree worn during Dhamal is that it is tied up to the knee. This is mainly done as a precautionary measure so that it does not cause any trouble for women while dancing.
Along with sarees, the women of the Siddi tribe wear a variety of ornaments while performing during dhamal. Saffron and Acacia’s leaves are used and they are tied on the waist, writs and are also worn as headgear by the community. Apart from that, peacock feathers are also attached to the headgear, which gives their costume a complete look. They represent their culture through their costumes. The faces are also painted using colours extracted from natural resources.
Women dance and showcase their devotion to their god. While women sing a repetitive song pattern, the men usually play the Dammam which is made of wood and deerskin on the sides.
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