Carolena may be able to answer, but the moves came from Megha's studies. She is the director of Devyani and comes by this tribe from time to time!

What a coincidence - Carolena and Meg are teaching a workshop in New Orleans this weekend and the move that this was modified came from a workshop in New Orleans. :-) Meg can explain further when she gets back, but so you don't feel ignored, I'll try to repeat it as best I remember.

Meg and some of the ladies from Devyani when it was still based in N.O. took a Indian workshop from a woman named Sununda. ( some of the old members are now N.O.madic Tribal) The seriously condensed version is that the move was based on one where the dancer is flicking little silk scarves back and forth. Obviously, little scarves don't work for us, but zills do. The Sununda obviously came from a modification of a step that was learned in that workshop, and I believe the waterpot did as well. I know it's based on an Indian move, but I'm not 100% sure that it was from the Rajasthani workshop.

Meg, and some of the first Devis should be able to fill in the gaps on the meaning and such behind the original steps.