GOFF- THE GOAN FOLK DANCE

Goff is an exotic confluence of colorful cultural strands. The weaving of the plait - Goff - represents the quite but conscious assimilation of the impressions left behind by several dynasties, which ruled over Goa during the past centuries.

The dance is annually presented by the peasant community in Canacona, Sanguem and Quepem taluka in the Shigmo festival which is the most popular folk festival of Goa.

It is a folk dance with cords, manifesting joy and happiness of Goan peasants after a bountiful harvest. It is performed during the Shigmo Festival in the Hindu Phalgun month.

Each dancer holds a colourful cord hanging at the centre point of the 'mand' - the place of performance – and starts dancing intricately with the others, forming a beautiful, colourful, intricate braid at the end of the first movement.

The music starts again and the dancers reverse the pattern of dancing so skillfully that the braid gets unravelled and at the end of the second movement, all the cords are loose and single once again.

There are 4 different braids of Goff. The songs sung are devoted to Lord Krishna. Ghumat, Simel and other melodic instruments accompany the dance.