Still resounding: Sounds of Suggi Kunitha

Surendra Pai describes a vibrant folk performance in Uttara Kannada that comes to homes and courtyards every year.

A group of 10 to 12 people wearing headgear made of colourful artificial flowers and birds on their heads with anklets on their feet, and staff in their hands, began dancing to folk music in the courtyard of a house. “Boho… soy… chohocho… sohocho…,” rang the sounds of the song. Their energy, the tinkling of the anklets and the beats of traditional musical instruments such as the gumate, pung, nagari, and jagate catch the attention of the onlookers, who also begin shaking their legs in sync, joyfully adding to the festive atmosphere. 

This is a glimpse into the suggi kunitha that leaves the audience spellbound. Suggi is a folk dance, mainly associated with the Halakki community in Uttara Kannada district. It is usually performed for eight days during Holi. Villagers eagerly wait to witness the dance and take part in the celebration, even at midnight. 

It is believed that the folk dance originated as a blessing from Shiva, one in the trinity of Hindu deities. Halakki people offer suggi kunitha as service to the deity, and begin their performance on the full moon day around the Holi festival.

Members of the Halakki, Gramavokkalu (Vokkaliga), Devaru, Nadava Nayaka, Mukri, Gavuda, Madivala, Kunbi, Kudabi, Gavunda, Gonda, Gunagi, Hallera, Komarpant and Belambara communities in Uttara Kannada district have kept the tradition of suggi alive. 

These communities primarily reside in the coastal areas of Karwar, Ankola, Kumta, Honnavar and Bhatkal. Although the number of people belonging to these communities is relatively small, their dedication to continuing the tradition in the modern era is remarkable.

Before beginning their dance, the artistes receive blessings from the family deity (Karidevaru) and prasadam (holy offering) from an elder. They then tie their anklets and wear the traditional attire.

During this period, the performers do not wear footwear. For nearly seven to ten days, they visit every household in the coastal villages and perform suggi kunitha in the courtyards of the houses, during the day and at night as well. After the performance, the head of the household honours the performers by giving them rice, coconut and money. In return, the performers offer blessings for a prosperous year and pray for a good harvest.

"Suggi is not merely for entertainment. It is a cultural expression and a way of showing gratitude to the gods for a bountiful harvest," says Shambhu Gowda, a suggi kunitha artiste from the Halakki community. 

While the performers believe that suggi kunitha brings good fortune to their family, those hosting the dance in their courtyards believe that it drives away evil spirits and ensures a better harvest the following year.

There are accounts indicating that suggi kunitha was performed during the British era, especially during Holi. It is said that suggi dancers from the Belambara Halakki community in Ankola taluk used the form to highlight societal issues. The British officers admired their dance and awarded them with copper plates as a token of appreciation. As a tribute to this, the Halakki community in Belambara still performs suggi kunitha in front of the tahsildar office in Ankola every year.

Though the population of the tribal communities along the coast is dwindling, community members are still making efforts to pass down this tradition to the next generation by encouraging their children to perform. However, in recent years, the number of people performing the suggi kunitha has decreased, as many have migrated for employment, and children are not as interested in continuing the tradition. As a result, it has become difficult to get enough participants to form a team for the dance.

Despite these challenges, the dance continues to live on, bringing members of various communities together and strengthening cultural identity.

(Translated from Kannada by Divyashri Mudakavi)