Wutan Huatan Jisuan Jishu ISSN:1001-1749

A STUDY RAMKATHA IN PERFORMING ARTS TRADITIONS Krishna Kumar Assistant Professor, Faculty of Education, I.A.S.E. (deemed to be university), Sardarshahar, Churu

Abstract

Ramlila, Rasleela is the one of greatest performing art of . It is true that it is impossible to conceive of a uniform tradition of performing arts, especially performing arts in India. The vast geographical area of India has many traditions of the performing arts. The main objective of this research is to study the theatrical traditions based on Ram Katha. Some dramatics that take the epic of as a sacred story. Ram Katha became an integral part of our local culture. Ram Katha spread not only to India but to the continent of , South East Asia, Central Asia, China, Japan, and shaped and shaped the life and art of the people there. Ram Katha reached the masses through folklore and folk arts. Despite various invasions and conflicts in India, cinema, social media such as media is still popular and existing today. The popularity of Ramkatha can be gauged by this fact that it is famous not only in India but also outside India. In this research we have studied the performing arts based on Ram Katha in India and outside India. How Harikatha, Tableau, Loknatya, Puppet, Dance, Nautanki, Khyal, Tamasha, Bhavai, Burrakatha, Duskathia, Chhaya Theater, Puppet Dance, Ramnagar Ramayana Ram Katha reached the village and city to city through easy and simple mediums like LeelaNatak, folk dance and performing arts like .

KeyWord :-Ramakatha, Lokanatya, Tradition, Ramayana, Chhaya Theater, Puppet Dance, Epics.

Introduction :-

The traditions of the arts revolving around Ramkatha are found not only in India but in many parts of Asia. The play based on Ram Katha is an artistic in itself and also holds a deep significance for the people of India. Whether it is a village, a town or a city, it spreads from

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folk theater to classical theater and performing arts, street plays, circus acrobatics. Even this story has reached from the rest of the society to the tribal society. There is no township, no village, no district, city where Ram Katha is not known. This eternal rip is a new story. Which is far ahead and important from the experiences of ephemeral artistic drama. and Krishna have shaped and shaped the life and art of not only the people of India but also those of South East Asia. Its amazing spread to South, East Asia, Central Asia, China and Japan has been present in the history of art for many centuries. Therefore, the field of Ram's story is wide. And it is not limited to literary or theatrical traditions only. In addition, Ram Katha theater should not only be considered in the backdrop of literature and arts, but also the background of the ideals values of Ram Katha life, this Narration presents to the people as a criterion of human conduct. Consciously or unconsciously, every man wants to be brave like Ram and sacrifice like Laxman and sacrificial like Tyagi and with a calm neutral and selfless spirit. And every woman wants to be kind and courageous like . The characters of Ram's story have house-to-door discussions in India, , , Cambodia and Sri . When decisions are to be taken in the deepest and crisp moments of life, the characters of this epic emerge in the minds of the inhabitants of Asia as human-styled individuals as symbols of natural powers.

The Objectives of the study :-

 To study Indian cultural traditions, theatrical traditions and to know the diverse history of Ramayana Ramlila theater.

 The values and ideals that Ramayana has presented to us are norms of human conduct.

 To Cultivate ethical value among people through Ramakatha.

 To Shows the significance of these epic worth while in present scenario.

Historical background of the Performing art Tradition :-

Different the thinker and Artist have different opinions about the introduction of Ramkatha in the performing arts. Some scholars consider the presentation of HarivanshPuranaRamlila drama as evidence. KapilaVatsayan mentioned in his book. The earliest form of this

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Ramakatha dates back to 1000 BCE or 800 BCE. And this time is definitely before the creation of Ramayana by .India, South East Asia, Central Asia,

History from Valmiki to the present of Ramkatha can be written in several volumes in different parts of Mongolia, , China, Japan and Sri Lanka. Creative works and Granthalochanare just one dimension of the generality of this fascinating story. Artists, craftsmen, woodworkers, painters, musicians and dancers alike have an amazing affection for this Ramakatha. Rama Katha has been depicted on the walls of temples of India, for instance Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and Burma from about the fourth century to the modern era. Most of them belong to the 9th century to the 13th century. Where there the Ramkatha has been a subject of attachment for the painters of murals and weavers or for the printing of clothes.

Different aspects of performing Art :-

Harikatha :-

Pure artistic sense Ramlila appears in many ways and in many forms across India. The simplest and most popular is the artist of Harikatha who either recites the pure fiction or sings it. This is called the storyteller. He is a professional reader, singer, musician, actor, instrumentalist. It is believed that the earliest singers and speakers of this tale were Luv and Kush. The narrator or saga was a precursor to the character actor of the theater. There is no unanimous history in the presentation of scholar Ramayana as a theatrical performance. Some scholars believe that the first presentation of the RamacharitraManas was done by a disciple of Tulsidas in the form of Ramlila. Whose life span was in or around 1625 AD. But according to some scholars, the architect of the temple named Narayan Das presented it for the first time after receiving the order in a dream. This dream vision is staged every year by the theater troupe in Varanasi.

Daskathia :-

This form ofRama Katha singing is found in Orissa. Its name originated from wood masses, which are the only musical instruments played together. Those are also called Dasakathia or Ramtali. The themes of the saga are taken from the Ramayana. The text used in this is from the Odiya language book Vichitra Ramayana. The saga singer also uses other Oriya adaptations of the Ramayana such as the Ramayana composed by Ram Das and the Dandi Ramayana. The story of Sita's birth is similar to that of Thailand and the Malaysian legend. In which he is told to be expelled by . The creation of all these adaptations is 16th

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century. Saga singer who uses verses. Those verses are known as "Chautisa" and "Chaupadi". And compositions called Love and Vritta.

Burrakatha :-

It is a popular singing of . Which is represented by a group of one or three singers. Rang Mahal inevitably recites the Ramayana. Telugu adaptation takes place in this tale. Which is called Dvaipada Ramayana or Ranganath Ramayana.Which is the creation of 12th century.RanganathRamayanain many episodesJava, Ramayana stories finds sourcesof the. Many variations are found in these and Valmiki Ramayana.

Chhaya and Puppet Theater :-

Chhaya Theater and Puppet Theater have all the forms of rods, glove and pupils in India, apart from the contemporary traditions of VayagulKulit or Nang Swek or Nang Yai of Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia and Thailand. VygGolak variety rod puppets and Burmese type pupils are found in different parts of India. The Ramayana dominated the Ram Katha Chhaya and puppet theater with Kathapath, singer, instrument, music and performance.

RavanaChhaya :-

Puppets inOrissa are made by cutting short and dyed leather. And they project photographs and side photographs. The text is performed from the bizarre Ramayana. The only sign of the "Dalang" of the VyagKulit of Indonesia is the signifying puppet driver or Ravana Shadow.

TholuBommalattam :-

Which means leather puppet dance. The text of dance plays is adapted from the Telugu Ramayana. The form of puppets resembles medieval murals of the Vijay Nagar era. The shadows are large. Which can be compared to Nang Swake.

Karnataka ChhayaTheater :-

Another presentation based around the Ramayana revolves around the Ramakatha, the Chhaya Theater of closely related to the Ramnatak offered through puppets. The Chhaya Theater, a TholapauKoothu (leather effigy drama) in Kerala, is a recurring

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rendition of the Ramakatha. Along with this, recitation and singing of poetry of Kamban Ramayana goes on. Kamban Ramayana is also followed in Tamil Nadu's puppet drama.

Ramlila of Ramnagar :-

Start the Ramlila of Ramnagar between the 18th century and the 16th was from RamcritrmansLeknkal. According to a legend, an ancestor of the Maharaja was ordered to convert the city of Varanasi into a Ramayana event in his dream. The entire Hindu society in Varanasi plays the Ramayana as a collective effort. People of all classes and all castes cooperate in the preparation. Its patron is still the local king. Actors are elected from any caste. Ram LaxmanSita's roles are performed by teenagers under 14 years of age. Announcers etc. to other characters musicians are selected on the basis of skill. In the performing arts, the Ramayana of Varanasi follows the text of Ramacharitramanas. Starting with the birth of Rama, it is presented at different places in each episode. In which one part is fixed as , the other one as forest, third one is Lanka fourth and etc. The play lasts for 10 to 15 days. The entire village becomes Rama Ravana world. It increases entertainment as well as social harmony. Love among people of society increases. The entire city becomes a theater. Ramlila of Varanasi is close to Asian drama traditions.

Significance of The famous Ramayana epic:-

Mentions more than hundreds of types of all over the world. Storytelling, singing theatrical traditions based on the story of Rama exist in India and other parts of Asia. The source of each of which is a special format of the region of the epic Ramayana, the Viragasse saga of Mysore has been using Kannada Ramayana since the 16th century. Sometimes pumps also use Ramayana. The saga singers of Kerala either use the Malayalam adaptation of . Or Ramanatam is used as the text of Champu Ramayana or as the text of Kathakali. The Tamil legend says Kamban takes shelter of the Ramayana in the 9th and 11th centuries. Which is the basis of the occasional forms of Ramayana in Bharatanatyam. Interestingly, the ChayaManch of Kerala revolving around the Ramayana is also the basis. Bengali saga singer Kritivasa uses the Ramayana. Which is similar to the Thai and Burmese forms. Although the Ramayana did not prevail in Kashmir, the 18th century Kashmiri adaptation of the epic Ramayana was popular in Kashmir. But Tulsidas was the most important and popular of all the types of Ramayana mentioned so far. Which is sung and performed in all parts of North India.Ramlila of Varanasi and each village in North India

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follow Ramcharitramanas of Tulsidas in the month of October and different types of processions plays in each city. In the every village and town, the arrival of autumn is celebrated as a celebration after harvest. Rama's life is presented as Ramlila. Dramatic artistic form is one of the most grand plays. "Ramnagar Ki Ramleela" is a drama tradition based on the Ram Katha in other countries as well. Whether it is classical theater or dandeKathakali, Kutiyattam, Yakshagana, Bharatanatyam, Kathak etc. Richard Shekhaner also observes the ancient tradition of presentation in Ramlila. Kutiyattam and Kathakali are examples of the ancient tradition of Ramayana.

CONCLUSION :-

After studying Ramakatha in dramatics and performing arts through this chapter, we have come to the conclusion that the story of Ramayana is prevalent in many forms and styles in the traditions of Indian performing arts. Through theater, there is a continuous dialogue between different levels of society and different disciplines of art. Ramlila has been an important theatrical genre which is used throughout in India. Through which, on the occasion of Dussehra, everyone gets a chance to see a huge drama of human life. Therefore to discuss Rama and Rama Katha in the context of Natya means to discuss in the context of overall life and overall culture. Ramayana or Ram Katha is one of important saga of Indian culture. Thousands In the public psyche for hatches have diedyears.Wherever Indians have gone, they have reached with them there. It did not become a part of the culture there but it has played a major role in the creation of that culture. It has been re-created in the languages of the place as a major theatrical form arts has coined . It has carved out its own identity by assimilating the local characteristics there. The Ramayana Katha is a communicative, strong and touching sensitive presentation of the deepest human emotions of the human heart. When it went outside India it settled in the consciousness of the people. Somewhere this Buddhism has reached the medium. So somewhere Shaiva and Vaishnavism reached through the medium of religion. Asian countries have their own Ramayana. The basic basis of which is Ramayana or Kamb Ramayana. Indonesia's Kaka Bean Ramayana, Cambodia's Reymaker, Thailand's Ramkiyan, Myanmar's Hikayat Seri Rama, Philippines General RadiaLavna, (RAM son love the city) Ramayana Fra Lock FraLam This country asks for his own identity. The Indonesian dance drama Wayang is a Ramayana-based rendition. Thai Ramlila dance drama Millions Khoi and Khon which are based on . Overall it can be said that in the live presentation of the story of Ram is settled in the mind of the people.

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