
Themes
tribal dance
Mevasi Dance , gujarat

The Mevasi Dance, also referred to as the Sagai-Chandla Dance, is an expression of culture in joy by the Vasava Bhil tribe, celebrating mostly at their engagements. This dance signifies romance, joy, and familial peace. The Mevasi Dance is the embodiment of the social and spiritual essence of the Vasava Bhil tribe, named after the Mewas region which has its unique confluence of rivers and communities. Mevasi Dance, a reflection of this heritage, celebrates the joyous union and engagement of couples in the community.

Vasava Bhil tribe is mainly found around the Narmada and Bharuch districts, particularly in the Mewas areas of thick forests and river confluences. Several other Bhil tribes, such as the Dungra and Tadvi Bhils, inhabit this same area and share nearly similar cultural traditions. The people of Vasava mainly survived on agriculture and animal husbandry. Famous for their unique socio-cultural heritage, Vasavas celebrate traditions cheerfully by enthralling performances, and this Mevasi Dance became a significant expression of communal joy on occasions like engagements and weddings.

The Mevasi Dance makes them wear bright traditional attire which symbolizes the richness of their culture. Attire-wise, men went about dressed in white dhotis and yellow shirts with colorful veils, sometimes adorned with a turban and a handkerchief. Women are now wearing kabjo (blouse), ghaghras (full-length petticoat), and red veils, with handkerchiefs in hand. Wearing suhag, these women decorate themselves with silver jewellery in the form of bindis, necklaces, anklets, and bangles. This bright attire very much resembles the Meghasi Dance and the same has been reflected in their artistic inheritance, making the performance more beautiful and spirited.

This Mevasi Dance is accompanied in their performance by the traditional instruments like the dholak (drum), sharnai (clarinet), kirtal (cymbals), thali (gong), and thrash (a kind of bell). Sources of construction for these, generally, are teak wood and brass. It forms the rhythmic basis for different chalas (dance steps), such as the pyramid, camel, and horse chalas. The drums are tightly covered with leather, which lends to their great sound quality. Absolute energy is created during the performance with this unique combination of instruments and dance, giving a dispatch to the dancers to convey their happiness and cultural pride through music. Mevasi Dance plays an important role in the socio-cultural life of the Vasava Bhil tribe, as it is performed primarily during engagement rituals and wedding festivities. Men and women are often seen getting together after the engagement to celebrate the happy event by dancing and enjoying the moment as a community. Besides weddings, the dance is a highlight among socio-religious events, fairs, and festivals. The Mevasi Dance has the potential to unite families, friends, and villagers into one happy family, making it a much-coveted tradition that marks out the Vasava Bhil's artistic and cultural identity.