Layman's Quickie Dodhiyu Guide

Layman’s Quickie Dodhiyu Guide


All right people, its time to sway and it don’t matter if you think you are not up to it. You need to be out there in the swirling circle as hearts and feet go scampering, trying to out do each others beats.

You have tried your hand at fencing the simple raas dandiya and returned home with a swollen finger or two. You managed to maneuver within human circles that swung to the humble two taali and three taali garbas, but now, dread dandiya season’s big bad daddy - the Dodhiyu.

A’ Dodhiyu’ in Gujarati means ‘one and a half’. It consists of a ménage-`a-troi of hop, skip and jump. One needs to hip hop, skip a beat or two and then jump in victorious delight. Often, the hands do not climax in a clap, even as one’s head sways in smooth surrender.

Invented by Amdavadis in the early eighties, the Dodhiyu is dependant on rhythm alone .It allows independent expression of one’s major body parts, as limbs, abdomen, hips, eyes and neck gracefully groove to an unchained melody. Instructors describe it as, ‘a dizzy drill which makes you forget whether you are going to or fro, while you crave for more.’

Here is a step by step breakdown to understand it a little better:
You begin in a circle facing outwards, step out with your right foot while your left hand shows the way, then step inwards half a circle with your left foot even as arms gracefully sway out in full swing, fore fingers pointing skywards, next, a sudden turn in the opposite direction,a full circle ensures that you are part of the merry go round, jerk your body as you skip a beat and take a heech before you take the next two steps forward, one inward and the other outwards to complete the routine of one permutation and reach the position you had begun from - a total of 6 moves if you please.

If you think that was complicated, remember, it’s just the first, basic step. One then upgrades to 8, 10, 12, 16, 22,26,32,36 steps which include innumerable variations of hand and footwork.

While Vadodara’s garba girls are renowned for their graceful gait in this art, in Surat, Dodhiyu is slick and spicy and has more ingredients to it than the Surti Undhiyu. This year Surtis are swaying to the Millennium Twist - a do it yourself 42 step Dodhiyu which makes the watchers swoon as revelers go in and out and all about, doing their thing in a peacock like prance.

Be warned that the Dodhiyu is extremely addictive and once you have mastered the art, nothing will manage to stop you from swinging.

DAY TAALI! SURTI SWING IS KING………………
Is it just me or are the Surtis swinging as they walk these days? Methinks the reason behind their graceful gait might very much be the fact that garba classes have commenced .All around Tapi town, from varachha to piplod, citylight to ghodod, parle point to choriyasi dairy road; Bachey, budhey and jawan Surtis are giving it a go to learn dodhiyu in these times of dearth e disco. Its legal dating for the young lovers, de stressing for the elders and skill attaining for the kids. Also for a tuppence of an amount, you get to work out for three months and lose weight as you joyfully dancercise to jhankaar beats.

I know dearies that the nine nights of Navratri are still a couple of months away but what on earth can hold back us fun loving Surtis? The festival is a season of brisk business for many. Enthusiastic Surtis prepare for the same, way in advance. First there are these garba classes, then there are the garba dresses on which unlimited time and moolah are spent .Designing for this season’s Navratri wear has already started full swing, in the backlanes of Maniyara Sheri from where the most popular creations come forth. The trend this year in garba gear is sure to be a cosplay of films like Jodha Akbar. Gota borders will add glitter and glam to skimpy cholis, flowing ghaghras and dhoti- kediyas.Surtis love dressing up and partying and what better way other than this - an entire trimester of Fashion, fun and dance to enjoy and celebrate.

In the 50’sand 60’s, temples and sheris were the only place where Navratri was celebrated. It’s a trend that’s fondly carried on till this date where single, double and triple clap garbas are performed to devotional songs sung in praise of Durga Ma’s nine incarnations. The women folk then started performing arvachin [modern] and prachin [ancient] style of ethnic garbas in mahila mandals. Also, municipal schools held garba competitions on the day of Sharad poonam which later were performed at Surat’s famous amphitheatre-Rangupvan.The 70’s and 80’s saw a more modern trend with dandiya and’ disco dandiya’ coming to age where both women and men dancing to frenzy on filmy music celebrated Navratri in freestyle at community halls or rented grounds. By the mid 80’s, visiting Ahmedabadi’s showed a new way of swirling to us Surtis, that was when the dodhiyu first came to town full fledge ……
This fancy new style became a rage as Surtis swung in, out and all around to get the dodhiyu right. As if the steps were not complicated enough, the hands too were to be twisted and turned without climaxing into a taali [clap]! That of course was just the beginning I mean the 6 and 8 step dodhiyu is just a base for fuddy duddies these days. Surti dodhiyu today has more ingredients in it than Surti undhiyu! We are into the 36 and 42 and still counting, steps these days; with prance fervour enough to put peacocks and butterflies to shame! In actions that make you forget whether you are going to or fro, the dodhiyu drill puts your head in a dizzy spell for sure. No wonder one needs to practice from right now if, in the garba season, one wants to part of the performing crowd.

Most of the classes are run by talented youngsters; they all begin with a small prayer and offerings to goddess Amba, who resides in the centre of the swirling human circle. Dodhiyu these days is performed to popular numbers from films and Falguni Pathak’s garba hits. In case you plan to join one, here are some tips-
Find one which is well ventilated and close to your home.
Stick surgical medi tape to protect your toes [footwear not allowed]
Carry a bottle of water or lemonade to replenish.
Wet tissues are a great idea in these humid days.
Wear stretchy, comfy, cotton clothes.
So go for it Surti, put your hands together and de taali to day time taali! Since the 9 nights of passion are still miles away; hang loose and let the dodhiyu dhamaal make you sway.