Classification or types of Garhwali Folk Plays/Traditional Dramas

Review of Characteristics of Garhwali Folk Drama, Folk Rituals and Traditional Plays part -3

                                        Bhishma Kukreti

           Due to tens of folk plays, it is difficult to reach a classification of folk plays/traditional dramas that satisfies every folk literature experts.

            There are many bases for classifying the types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas.

             Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas could be divided though poetic structure

1-Poetic Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

2-Non Poetic Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

3- Prose-Poetic Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

 Learned folk literature scholar Dr. Data Ram Purohit classified the types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas as follows –

1-Pandav Lila Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

2-Bagdwali Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

3-Jat yatrayen or pilgrim tour Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

4-Mask Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas at specific occasions

5-Swang and games

6-Chivlary Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas by professional class

7-Radhakhandi Ras Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

8-Rituals Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

However, the above classification is incomplete

 Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas could also be divided as folk songs –dances divided by Rajasthan folk literature expert Devi Lal Samar

1-For self pleasure Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

2-Ritualistic or religious Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

3-Work oriented Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

4-Social Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

5-Entertaining Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

  Classification /types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas by Bhishma Kukreti

   In the opinion of this author, Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas could be divided through following ways-

1-Religious Rituals, folk drams in festivals and special occasions including folk song-dance oriented Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

2-Non religious Folk Songs –dances oriented Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas

3- Non religious and non folk song-dance Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas performed by professional performers as Badi/Hudkya

4-Non religious, non folk dance-song oriented Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas performed by society members alone or in groups.

5-Specific Garhwali Folk Game oriented folk plays/traditional dramas

6-Misclenious Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas those do not come under above divisions

In the following chapters this author will discuss various types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com 29/9/2013

Review of Characteristics of Garhwali Folk Drama, Folk Rituals and Traditional Plays part to be continued…4

                    References

1-Bharat Natyam

2-Steve Tillis, 1999, Rethinking Folk Drama

3-Roger Abrahams, 1972, Folk Dramas in Folklore and Folklife 

4-Tekla Domotor , Folk drama as defined in Folklore and Theatrical Research

5-Kathyrn Hansen, 1991, Grounds for Play: The Nautanki Theater of North India

6-Devi Lal Samar, Lokdharmi Pradarshankari Kalayen  

Notes on Classification or types of Garhwali Folk plays/Traditional Dramas; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Chamoli Garhwal; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Rudraprayag Garhwal; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Pauri Garhwal ; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Tehri Garhwal; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Uttarkashi Garhwal; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Dehradun Garhwal; Classification or types of Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas from Haridwar Garhwal;