Gangavataran: Use of Garhwali Drama for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga

Notes on Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Asian  Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; South Asian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; SAARC Countries Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Indian subcontinent Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Indian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; North Indian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges at Bank of  Ganga ; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges  at Sonepur Mela; Himalayan Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Mid Himalayan Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Uttarakhandi Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Kumauni Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga; Garhwali language Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganga  

                                            Bhishma Kukreti

                    Ganga is the most Reverend River in the world. There is mythological story behind the birth of Ganga and most of Indians believe in the mythological characters of king Sagar, king Bhagirath etc. There have been dramas played on the subject of Gangavataran or birth of Ganga.  For example, a dance- lyrical drama by Nrendra Kukamr was staged in 2009 in Sonepur mela/fair of North Bihar. Malavika Sarrukai is a famous classical dancer who dances on the theme of Ganga in foreign countries as Singapore (Ganga Nritya vahini).

             However, today, there is a serious problem of Ganga pollution by human waste, industrial waste, religious events, and dams etc. The literature creative specially are not behind creating drams about public awareness for clean status of Ganga.  For example, Jagrit,i  Bengaluru presented a drama ‘The Invisible River’ directed by   Ruchika Chanana (2007) as Theatrescince concept. In this drama, the dramatists present many facets related to Ganga and all facets –religion, politics, saints, Ganga pollution, Ganga cleaning acts are interrelated.

   Manu Dhoundiyal and Harish Badola wrote a Garhwali lyrical dance-drama ‘Gangvataran’.   The drama takes the audience to the birth of Ganga and then Ganga herself asks the people for her problems of pollution. In this lyrical drama Ganga is shown as human being character who is asking questions to human beings for taking responsibilities keep rivers pollution free.    A social organization of Lucknow staged the Garhwali lyrical dance-drama ‘Gangavataran’ twice in 2007 and 2008.  

  The   Garhwali lyrical dance-drama ‘Gangavataran’ is a good example of making mythological story plays as vehicle of public awareness for cleaning Ganga River.                                     

References:

1-Dr Anil Dabral,Garhwali Gady Parampara (Garhwali Dramas from beginning till 1990)

2-Abodh BandhuBahuguna, Gad Myateki Ganga (Garhwali dramas from beginning till 1975)

3-Dr Sudharani,Garhwal ka  Rangmanch (Garhwali Dramasfrom beginning till 1985)

4-Drama special issue of Chitthi Patri magazine (Garhwali Dramas and plays staged in Delhi, Karachi,Mumbai, Dehradun and other places)

5- Dr Hari Datt BhattShailesh, Garhwali Natak evam Rangmanch: Ek Vihngam Avlokan (Garhwali Drams andtheatres from beginning till 1985)

6-Dr Bhakt Darshan: BarristerMukandi Lal Srmriti Granth (Garhwali dramatists or theatres playwrights till1985

7-Dr Nand KishorDhoundiyal, Garhwal ki Divangat Vibhutiyan (pp108-116, about contribution ofBhagwati Prasad Panthri for developing Garhwali drama)

8- Manuscripts ofvarious dramas (curtsey by Parashar Gaur)

9- Personal talks with playwrights/dramatists

10- Notes by D.D. Sundariyal from Chandigarh

11- Various inputs byDr. D. R. Purohit from Shrinagar, Garhwal 

12- Bhishma Kukreti, LokNatya Visheshank of Chitthi Patri, Dehradun

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti, 25/5/2012

Notes on Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Asian  Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; South Asian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; SAARC Countries Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Indian subcontinent Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Indian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; North Indian Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges at Bank of  Ganga ; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges in Sonepur mela; Himalayan Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Mid Himalayan Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Uttarakhandi Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Kumauni Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges; Garhwali language Dramas for Public Awareness about Cleaning Ganges  to be continued..