Informal Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters

Review of Characteristics of Garhwali Folk Drama, Folk Rituals and Traditional Plays part -10

                                        Bhishma Kukreti

    Where the drama is played that becomes Stage for Drama!

         As far as stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres is concerned there is not tendency of creating formal stage (Natya Manch) in Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres. Where ever the play is played that place becomes stage for folk drama.   

                Usually, there were/are following informal stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres.

        Courtyard of Village Chief as Stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

         In immediate past, there was accustom that professional drama/dance/song performing caste artists Badi used to play folk dramas in Chait month after every twelve year called Lang. Usually, plays  for whole Chait month by Badi used to played in village chief courtyard.

    There was /is custom to sing songs, dance and play folk drams in every Chait month by villagers and these dramas were /are played on the courtyard of village chief. This month is also called Geetun maina or month for songs.      

    Grazing Field as Stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

   

  When the cattle teamsters used to play drams in Jungle or grazing field that place used to become stage.

 Individual home or courtyards as Stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

            When there would be religious rituals the place where rituals are performed that place become stage for folk dramas.

  Resting place as Stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

 In any type of travelling (for example Dhakar), the villagers used to play dramas or people used to sing and dance at resting places. That place becomes as for Stage for playing folk dramas.

                          Religious tour and stage for folk dramas

 There are many Jatras /religious tour performed in Garhwal by villagers. Various types of religious dramas are played in tour. Wherever the religious or sometimes secular drama is performed the place becomes stage for such folk plays or theaters.

        Fairs/folk games and Festival places as Stage for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

 There are fairs /folk games and festivals in Garhwal where various religious or secular dramas are performed. Those places become automatically the stage for folk dramas.

            Various social Events for Garhwali folk plays /traditional plays/conventional theatres

                People play or perform dramas in various social events. Places of those events become the stages for folk dramas.

 Therefore, it is true that Garhwali folk plays/ traditional dramas or theatres are not having definite set of planning for stage but stages are set as per time, class and place. Wherever the folk dramas are played that become stage for traditional theatre. Or it may be said that informal stage setting is found in Garhwali folk plays/traditional dramas/customary theatres.

Copyright @ Bhishma Kukreti, bckukreti@gmail.com 3/10/2013

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

                    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 

7=Dr Shiv Prasad Dabral, Uttarakhand ka Itihas part 1-12

8-Dr Shiva Nand Nautiyal, Garhwal ke Loknritya geet

9-Jeremy Montagu, 2007, Origins and Development of Musical Instruments

10-Gayle Kassing, 2007, History of Dance: An Interactive Arts Approach

11- Bhishma Kukreti, 2013, Garhwali Lok Natkon ke Mukhya Tatva va Charitra, Shailvani , Kotdwara

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Notes on Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in Garhwal; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in Uttarakhand; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in Himalaya; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in North India; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in Indian Subcontinents; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in SAARC Countries; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in South Asia; Stage/Theatre Settings in Garhwali folk Plays/Traditional Dramas/Theaters in Oriental region ;