Kannadathis perform 'dollu kunitha', with elan

The power of Kannadathis (women Kannadigas) is in full bloom at the World Kannada Meet under way in  Belgaum.

Kannadiga women artistes from Heggodu village in Sagar taluk of Shimoga district stole hearts with their power-packed dollu performance during the inaugural march.

The dollu troupe of Vanita Kala Tanda from Heggodu village in Shimoga district, is led by Suma Ramachandra.

Swaying to the rhythmic beats of the dollus, the 10 women of the troupe swung the heavy percussion instruments and threw them up in the air with ease and elan, driving another nail into the belief that the folk artform is a male domain.

“We are all middle-age housewives and had to practise hard for eight months to master this art. We have performed at 60 different places in Karnataka,” said Suma. Rashmi K, another dollu artiste, said the team members also worked in arecanut plantations.

“Being in Belgaum is a special occasion for us as delegates from various parts of the world are here,” she said.

Besides the dollu artistes, over 1,008 local women carried Pooranakumbha Kalashas on their heads and walked all the way in the 6-km inaugural march from Veera Soudha to the Nehru stadium, oblivious of the sweltering heat.

Another 60-member troupe of women from Aradhana Mahila Sangha, Belgaum, carried Kannada flags during the march. “Belgaum needs to have this kind of festival on a regular basis,” said Prema Upadya.