Keri: Fugdi is primarily a folk dance performed by women of all ages, but in Kudne, male members of Malik family in the Kelmekar faction perform it on the second day of Ganesh Chaturthi.At the centuries-old ancestral house in Chauki, the Malik family celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi every year. On the second day, all male family members assemble before Lord Ganapati and, holding a small metal pitcher, perform a ritualistic Fugdi dance accompanied by a folk song.The traditional song begins by invoking Lord Ganapati and inviting him to join the dance, with devotees expressing their willingness to serve him. The lyrics then refer to local temples and deities, including Mahadev, Sateri, Kelbai, Ravalnath, Vetal, Maharudra and Adinath, and finally the Ramvans deities of Kudne. The song reflects the village’s socio-cultural life and prevailing conditions.Typically, women perform Fugdi in a circular formation without instruments, keeping rhythm through hand clapping. In Kudne, the male performers, holding small metal pitchers, dance in a row rather than in a circle, accompanied by percussion instruments such as the Ghumat and Samel.Sidharth Malik of Kudne said the tradition has been maintained for generations and that the younger generation is continuing it. Similar ritualistic male Fugdi performances are also seen in Naveli (Bicholim), where male members of Gawas families perform on the second day, and in Betki (Ponda), where Bhagat perform on the evening of the first day.
