Folk art reawakens

Folk art reawakens

MANOJ KAR

Artistes perform Mughal tamasha and Ghumra forms of folk art at the culture festival in Paradip. Telegraph picture Paradip, March 21: Mughal tamasha, a traditional folk art that is a prominent remnant of Muslim rule in the state, was enacted with brilliance as the Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy (OSNA) tried to revive the dying tradition on the concluding day of a two-day cultural festival in Paradip last week. Dressed in glittering clothes, the artistes put on an appealing show. Shadow puppetry, a form of folk art that is on the verge of extinction, was also a major attraction at the two-day festival that was jointly organised by the OSNA, Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre, Calcutta and Paradip Port Trust. Talking about Mughal tamasha, art critic Sriman Mishra said the theme and script of the play that was performed subtly portrayed the complex multi-racial ingredients of medieval Orissa. “It revolves round the visit of a Mughal emperor’s revenue collector to a remote village. Driven by curiosity, the representative of the Muslim ruler visits a Hindu temple. He comes across a beautiful local woman from the milkmen community falls in love. It’s the love that conquers intricate barriers of religion, language and economic status,” said Mishra. Pratap Kumar Sahany, secretary, Orissa Sangeet Natak Academy, said that despite ample doses of entertainment and creativity, this folk art form that grew and flourished mainly in Bhadrak district is now on a fast decline. “About three decades ago, there were a number of troupes who performed Mughal tamasha. “Now, there are perhaps a couple of active troupes. It’s a unique folkart that is symbolic of the state’s rich cultural history. It needs to be conserved. The Orissa Sangeet Natak Acedemy is doing its best to save the art with support from the Union ministry of culture and various other organisations”. The play that was performed dates back to 18th century and was a classic case in point of Hindu-Muslim unity. The dramatised version bore ample testimony to the fact that both communities co-existed peacefully. Orissa ,then a part of the Bengal-Bihar province rich with indigenous culture was free from communal tension. “Mughal tamasha brings under focus the influence of Muslim rule in Oriya culture. The dresses, ornaments, food habits, art and culture of the Oriya people were deeply influenced by Islamic culture,” said Dipti Prakash Pattnaik, a folk art lover. Both Mughal tamasha and shadow puppetry found plenty of appreciators. “The shadow puppetry show and the enactment of the Ramayan and the killing of demon king Ravan was a treat to watch. It was exhilarating. My child enjoyed the show very much,” said Sarat Rout, a resident of the port town, Paradip. sourced from 'the telegraph'