Lava (Lava Lava)

Understand

Where Lava (Lava Lava) comes from

Lava (also called Lava Lava) is the traditional folk-dance of the Minicoy island of Lakshadweep (the southern-most island of the union territory). The dance is associated with the Mahl people (the inhabitants of Minicoy, who speak a form of Maldivian Dhivehi distinct from the Malayalam-speaking Lakshadweep of the other islands) and is performed at the central courtyard of the village and at the cultural celebrations of the Minicoy. The dance is one of the most distinctive regional traditions of Lakshadweep and is regularly performed at the cultural programmes of the union territory. The dance is one of the documented regional traditions of the island.

How it's practiced

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