Dhunuchi Dance-off

At sandhya arati

When the evening arati begins, the dhakis start slow, then build and build until the whole pandal is shaking. Dancers lift smoking dhunuchis (clay incense burners filled with coconut husk and dhuno resin) and dance to the beat, sometimes with one in each hand and one in the teeth. Many paras hold a dhunuchi naach competition on Navami night.

How to play

• Choose a rhythm: Sandhya Arati (speeds up from 92 to over 160 BPM), Agomoni (steady) or Bisarjan (fast from the start).
• Hit ◀ (←, A or the left side) and ▶ (→, L or the right side) as each beat reaches the circle. Gold beats need both hands; long notes ━ need holding.
• 20 in a row lights FEVER: blue flames and double points. Misses drain your dhunuchi's fire; let it go out and the dance ends (unless Practice is on).
• Playing through a Bluetooth speaker? Set the speaker delay so the beats line up. P pauses the dance.