Lakshadweep (Minicoy) Thara

Understand

Where Lakshadweep (Minicoy) Thara comes from

Thara is the Minicoy community-praising-singing-dance of the Lakshadweep, performed at the community celebrations of the Minicoy island. The dance is the regional tradition of the Mahl community and is associated with the social and the cultural life of the Minicoy people. The form is one of the lesser-documented but living traditions of the Minicoy and is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the union territory and at the regional community festivals.

How it's practiced

Thara is performed by men and women of the Minicoy community in a circle at the central courtyard of the village or at the open ground of the festival. The men and women perform in coordinated steps to the song of the Thara cycle and to the rhythm of the small regional instruments of the Minicoy tradition. The dance is gentle, with the small stepping rhythm of the Minicoy tradition. Costume is the traditional Mahl dress of the Minicoy — the colourful lungi and the regional dress. Performances are at the central courtyard and at the cultural programmes of the union territory.