IIS UPDATE Magazine Edition 20

THE INSTITUTE OF ISMAILI STUDIES
Ismaili Festivals: Stories of Celebration by Dr Shiraz Kabani is the
first title in the IIS’s new Living Ismaili Traditions series. The book is a
unique and personal account of festivals and traditions from the author’s
own lived experience as an Ismaili. Here Dr Kabani—who heads the
IIS’s Department of Community Relations—reflects on the aims of the
series, who it is for, and the importance of storytelling.
Returning to the festivities at London Olympia, the round of
rasda was followed by dandiya raas, which is often part of
the Imamat Day and other celebrations among South Asian
Ismailis. This traditional folk dance is performed with one or
two dandiyas, which are foot-long wooden sticks. Although it
has many forms, it generally involves two individuals striking
their sticks in a rhythm, while stamping their feet on the
ground, like in a sword fight. Some believe it is a symbolic
re-enactment of a sword fight between the forces of good and
evil. After two strikes, the partners swirl to exchange sides
and repeat the motion. The striking of sticks and stamping
of feet correspond to the beat of instrumental music. When
many couples perform this dance together, the swirling and
circular movements are quite mesmerising. I have rarely
played dandiya raas myself, but watching it enhances my
joy in celebrating the blessing of Imamat in my life.
From Ismaili Festivals: Stories of Celebration, Chapter 9: Imamat Day
and the Spiritual Leadership of Mawlana Hazar Imam, pp.169–170
9