Gowari is a popular dance form of the
Bhil tribe in the southern part of
Rajasthan. It is a form of dance drama in which the dance troupes move from village to village for a month while the nine functionaries follow a strict regimen.
During the performance of various episodes, the entire troupe dances around a central spot consecrated to a deity. The main characters are Rai Buriya Shiva, his two ‘Rais’, and ‘Katkuria’, the comic handyman. The dance is accompanied by a ‘madal’ and a ‘thali’.
