Nautanki: the famous places

Nautanki and its places..

                 Nautanki is a folk culture that is now clear to us by the previous posts ,we now know the history the origin of this culture.In this post we will be knowing the places from where it began rather from where “Nautanki” walked and to what destination it reached and how much did it travelled. There are several names given to “Nautanki ” as it travelled through several states in India as per their culture and tradition.Though the sole purpose remains the same viz .providing entertainment to the masses.Jatra, Bhaavai and Tamasha are the few names given to “Nautanki”..

‘Jatra’ for westbengal

                      In Eastern India “Nautanki” is termed as “Yatra” or “Jatra” in West Bengal.Jatra or Yatra is performed in Assam, Orissa and parts of WestBengal. The word ‘Yatra’ actually means a ‘Journey’ or ‘Pilgrimage’ from one place to another.Jatra is an open space performance ,Ritualistic theater based on the life of Lord Krishna and the mysthological plays about Ramayana and Mahabharata. In Bengal the ‘Palas’. A different forms of yatra known as Sahi Yatra is being held on alleys and bylanes of Puri.’ Jatra’competitions are held on Durga Puja festival .

In Rajasthan and Gujrat as ‘Bhavai’:

                        Asait Thakore or Ashram Maharaja a Brahmin , who used to live in the village called Unjha in Gujrat found this popular theatrical performance .During Navaratri this form of ‘Nautanki’ was performed later on this art form became popular and got converted to an entertainment for the common people. While the ‘Bhavai’ of Rajasthan is more musical and less theatrical when compared th Gujrat.

‘Tamasha’ for Maharasthra :

               Tamasha evolved from the early forms of entertainments in Maharasthra.It was for humor and eroticism. It is one of the rare forms of entertainment where women play feminine characters. Naughty episodes of Krishna Leela are being played out in the opening sequence of the play. The Lavani songs which were sung on the background were equally delightfully vulgar and erotic.

sources: google