'Fugdi', a lively folk dance of Goan women, is performed especially during which festival?

Fugdi is a popular folk dance of Goa and the Konkan region of Maharashtra, performed by women. It is performed especially during Ganesh Chaturthi (called Chavath in Goa), and also during other Hindu festivals and religious occasions, such as the Shigmo and the month of Bhadrapada.

Fugdi is performed by women, who stand in a circle or in rows. They begin with a slow, graceful movement and gradually increase the speed, until they are whirling rapidly in pairs, holding each other's hands, spinning around in circles. While dancing, they sing traditional folk songs in Konkani, often in praise of Lord Ganesha or other deities, or about everyday life, family and nature. The dancers often make a special sound by blowing air through their mouths, which gives the dance its name, "fugdi" or "phugdi". No musical instruments are usually used; the rhythm is created by the songs, the clapping of hands and the sound of the dancers' feet. There are many different forms of Fugdi in different parts of Goa.

Fugdi was traditionally performed by women when they gathered together after finishing their household work, as a form of entertainment, relaxation and social bonding. It is an important part of Goan culture and is regularly performed at cultural festivals and competitions.

Ganesh Chaturthi is the biggest Hindu festival in Goa. Families bring home clay idols of Ganesha, worship them with great devotion, and decorate the area around the idol with a "matoli", a canopy of fruits, vegetables and plants from the forest.

Other folk dances of Goa include the Dekhni, the Dhalo (performed by women in the month of Pausha), the Ghodemodni (a warrior dance with dummy horses), the Mando (a song and dance of Catholic Goans) and the Kunbi dance of the tribal Kunbi community.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Christmas is celebrated by Goan Catholics with carols and midnight mass.
• ✗Sao Joao is the monsoon festival in which young men jump into wells.
• ✗Goa Carnival is the colourful festival held before Lent, with parades.