Goti(one), pua(boy) is a classical dance form performed by boys dressed as girls. The dance is an expression of devotional poetry to Lord Krishna, a Hindu God. It orginated in medieval times in the southern Indian state of Orissa. Although at that time it was common for women, who had commited their lives to a temple, to dance in its courtyard in the evenings, they did not dance in public. With this restriction and also the customary practice of worshipping Lord Krishna as female devotees Gotipua became a popular tradition.
Birendra Pani, a visual artist from Orissa, has created an exhibition on Gotipua. It was displayed at the Fine Arts Faculty of the University in Baroda. I went to visit and also watch a perfomance of Gotipua. Listen here to Birendra and one of the dancers whom I spoke to after the performance. (The jingling in the background is the bells that the dancers wear around their ankles.)
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