'Morulem', a traditional folk dance of Goa, is performed during which festival?

Morulem (also spelt Morulo) is a traditional folk dance of Goa performed during Shigmo, the spring festival of the Goan Hindu community, celebrated in the month of Phalguna (March). The dance is performed mainly by the rural and tribal communities, such as the Gawdas and Kunbis, in the villages of Goa.

The name Morulem is often linked with "mor", meaning peacock, and the dance is said to imitate the graceful movements of the peacock, which dances when the rains are near. The dancers, usually men, sometimes dress in colourful costumes and carry decorated sticks, fans or peacock feathers. They dance in a circle or in rows, moving gracefully and rhythmically, to the beat of drums such as the "dhol" and the "ghumat", and the music of the "kansallem" (cymbals). They also sing traditional folk songs, often about nature, the harvest, gods and goddesses and everyday life.

Shigmo is one of the biggest festivals of Goa. It celebrates the arrival of spring and the return of the warriors who had left their homes after Dussehra to fight battles. It is celebrated for several days, with folk dances, music, processions and colourful float parades in towns such as Panaji, Mapusa and Margao. Many traditional folk dances are performed during Shigmo, such as the Ghode Modni (a warrior dance with dummy horses), the Romat (a procession with drums, flags and dancers), the Talgadi, the Tonyamel (a stick dance) and the Morulem. These dances help to preserve the folk culture of Goa.

Other folk dances of Goa include the Fugdi (by women, during Ganesh Chaturthi), the Dhalo (by women, in the month of Pausha), the Dekhni and the Mando (songs and dances of the Catholic community).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Christmas is celebrated by Goan Catholics with carols and midnight mass.
• ✗Sao Joao is the Catholic monsoon festival of jumping into wells.
• ✗Diwali in Goa is known for the burning of effigies of Narakasura.