ETYMOLOGICAL MEANING OF GHUMURA DANCE :

Ghumura is an earthen pitcher and the imagination of the preparation of such pitcher into a musical instrument is a polygenetic development. ‘Ghumura’ is derived from ‘Ghum+u+Ra’. ‘Ghum’ means bowl like pitcher made of soil or clay and having a thin face with big belly. ‘U’ means ‘Lord Siva’ and ‘Ra’ mean ‘Raba’ or ‘Dhowni’ (vibrating sound). Earthen clay pot is locally known as ‘Ghumuri’, which was largely used by females to reserve water for home use. The male version of ‘Ghumuri’ is ‘Ghumura’. Since Ghumura is a male dance form and it is found in almost all parts of the human culture that equipment and appliances invented for human use have been the foundation to the invention of musical instruments, the derivation of name of Ghumura from ‘Ghumuri’ signifies such claim.  Though Ghumura has been included in folk culture, it is a widespread dance in the Kalahandi region. It is in unknown if in its early period whether it was a caste-based dance or not. By the time when Ghumura entered into the sphere of folk dance, above from the level of tribal dance, it was extensively performed by almost all castes and communities. Perhaps, Ghumura was a caste-based dance of a particular caste in its beginning and later on extended to different castes and communities. It was then widely accepted as a mass dance from folk dance.  Ghumura dance has had the opportunity to represent the nation in international events in Delhi, Moscow, and other places.