A History of the Mahrattas v1.c25.24

v1.c25.24

¹ Gonedulees are a low cast of musicians, in the house of one of whom Raja Ram had been first concealed. [The Gōndhalis (Gonedulees) take their name from the gōndhal (from Marāthi gondharne, ‘to make a noise’), a dance in honour of the goddess Bhavānī, and style themselves sons or devotees of the goddess. Supposed to have come originally from Tuljāpur in Hyderābād State, they are now found in various parts of the Deccan, particularly in Sātāra District and Kolhāpur State. They appear to be ethnically akin to the Marāthā Kunbī, and differ little from the latter in dress and appearance. Though occasionally begging in the name of Bhavānī, their chief occupation is gōndhal-dancing, and the singing of religious, historical, or amorous songs, called powadas. They also perform tamāshas, or rude plays, before the lower classes, in which songs describing the exploits of Bhavānī and other goddesses are sung. The investiture of their boys with a sacred necklace of cowries is a custom peculiar to them. With the spread of education the Gōndhalis are said to be relinquishing their hereditary calling, and their ballads which frequently related historical events with almost Biblical simplicity, are being forgotten. A specimen of one of these powadas, describing the satī of Rāmabāi, widow of Mādhu Rāo Pēshwā, is given in J.B. Anth. S., ii. 179. (See also Acworth’s Marāthi Ballads; J.B. Anth. S., i. 371; and Russell, T. and C.C.P.)]