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Dolla Nrityam is performed as a part of the
ritual during the Beerappa festival, which marks the marriage of Goddess
Durga and Lord Shiva. Dolla Nrityam is the dance with drums, drummers take
up different positions and beat the drum in different variations. The
dancers are called 'Beerannas'.
They
smear their foreheads with sacred ash and they wear a short or a top with
bells stitched on. They put on ornaments like 'Oggu', a brass 'Naphera',
and bells to the ankles, a ring on the second finger of the right leg, a
golden ring on the right leg and silver on the left.
They wear swords to symbolise valour. As part of the festival ritual, the
priest takes the Goddess Ganga in procession. The dancers follow the
priest to the temple in rhythmic circular and semi circular movements. The
movements vary with the developments. Finally the drummers make an
important formation of a tree. Eight dancers stand in a circle and four
dancers climb on their shoulders. This process continues till a single
drummer stands a top beating his drum. This dance associated with Beerappa
festival draws huge crowds in the villages.