Address:
ZILHA KRIDA SANKUL, NANDURBAR, NANDURBAR ,MAHARASHTRA - 425412
About type of art
Name of Tribal Dance - Lezim Dance
Name of Tribe - Koli Mahadev
Name of Performers with mobile Numbers-
Details of the troupes-
Varasubai Mahila lezim pathak, Bhiwade Kh.Uschil, Tal- Junnar, Dist- Pune
Mrs.Yamuna Shravan Shelkande
Mob No - 9403356436
Taleshwar Pratishthan Lezim Pathak, Nimgiri, Tal- Junnar, Dist- Pune
Mr.Sachin Devram Sable
Mob No - 9970038641
Meaning or Significance-
Koli Mahadev is one of the major tribes in Maharashtra. This tribe lives in the geographical area of Pune, Ahmednagar, Nashik, Raigad, Palghar and Thane on the ghat of east-west range of the Sahyadri.
Lezim Kathi is a traditional dance form of this tribe which has been practiced for generations in various customs, traditions and festivals. This feature is not found anywhere else.
Performance Context-
The Lezim dance may take place on occasions such as marriages and apart from Holi, during the festivities of Diwali and Waghbaras. Shimga or Holi is the most important celebration and an occasion on which the Lezim dance takes place. No songs are sung, but musical instruments like the Dhol, Tasha, Jhanj and Sambal are played to accompany the beats of the Lezim.
When dancing lezim, the whole movement from the width of your feet to the neck is accompanied by rhythm, beat and melody. This dance is performed in the Koli Mahadev area of Sahyadri. This dance begins with hailing the god of nature and ends with the same. The beginning of this dance is very slow. Art skills are shown in the middle of the dance e.g. Hunting, wrestling, kabaddi, making goofs, and giving some awareness messages. The dance picks up pace as it moves towards end and literally grabs the attention of the audience. It involves a number of martial arts, such as spinning, jumping, standing on one's head, and leaning left and right.
The Lezim dance of the Koli Mahadev is unique in its use of a gopha or maypole. The male dancers play lezim, moving in time with its rhythm as they each hold one chord attached to the pole. As they dance, the chords are gradually wound into a complex pattern around the pole.
Costumes and Jewellery-
Bundi or kopari are used in this dance. The waist has dhoti. The head has a pagoda. There is a black goph on the wrist of the hand and around the neck.
Music and Instruments-
Lezim is made of wood or iron. Lezim has two rods. A rod is usually one to one and a half feet long. The second rod is about the length of a fist 6 inches
At both ends of the long rod has a chain of iron, and in that chain there are iron chips. These chains are connected to both ends of the short rod making it a single instrument Lezim. A melodious sound of lezim comes as we move the rods closer and apart from each other. That rhythmic sound makes a distinctive music.
Lezim dances have a group of instruments which mainly include Halgi. Dhol, Tasha, Sanai, Sambal, Zanj, etc. Halgi is made of leather and is played rhythmically with a thin strong stick. The sound of this halgi is very sweet. And the dancers who dance to her tune are showing off their ingenuity. The drum is also present to accompany Halgi. Sanai makes her presence known by producing melodious and easy music for entertainment. She also has a companion. The band captivates the entire audience and the lazim dancers perform their dance to the tune of all these instruments.