Dhalo is the dance form performed by Gabit communities. Legand tells us that Radha used to sing love songs (dhalos) to Krishna. In the beginning the dhalos reffered only to the love of Krishna and Radha. Later people gradually developed the songs and they started to sing praises to other gods too. As an annual women’s festivals, it is celebrated as per the Hindu calendar during the month of pausha and megha. If shigmo is male festival, dhalo ia san entirely female festival. It extends from Goa to the konkan. The performance takes place at the mand, a sacred open space where the village folk gather to sing, dance or play music as part of ritualistic performance. The ladies dress up as men where the ritual demands. In the same way ladies are not allowed at the scared Shigmo Maand and in a men procession whrer the men dress like women, demons and monkeys.
On the day the dhalos start, either on a Wednesday or a Sunday the women decorate the ground with Rangoli or the open space in the house where the tulas is installed and also near the temple. On a moonlight winter night all the women bedecked with flowers like surgam, ovlam ,abolim, mongrim, chafim etc assembled and light an lamp near the tulsi vrindavan or an heap of mud.
On the day the dhalos start, either on a Wednesday or a Sunday the women decorate the ground with Rangoli or the open space in the house where the tulas is installed and also near the temple. On a moonlight winter night all the women bedecked with flowers like surgam, ovlam ,abolim, mongrim, chafim etc assembled and light an lamp near the tulsi vrindavan or an heap of mud.