• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

SUNDAY, MAY 29, 2016 (PAGE 4) HERITAGE ART & CULTURE Mela Baba Yug Theatre can transform children Radha Krishan Aarushi Thakur ing together as one big team. Theatre is important in today’s aspect because its function- Yugdhar is most famous Every summer when I look at my calendar, I ing is based on epistemology; it so beautifully makes you a for the Shrine of Baba Yug find myself sitting in a theatre camp, full of knowledgeable person without the burden of books and Maharaj ji. This temple is school bags. Children who do theatre are exposed to writers almost one thousand year cheer and pomp, music playing in the back- and authors when they participate in plays, they not only get old. In the temple, there are ground, kids trying different costumes, set to read world classic like Shakespeare, Dickens, Wordsworth Pindees and idol of Baba Yug , Tagore , Premchand and others but even perform them. They Maharaj ji, Nagdevta and being designed and dialogues being learned. get acquainted with different, contemporary ideas making Mahamaya mata .All the In that state of déjà vu I remember my previous them conceptually aware of their society. Introducing theatre devotees serve "Rot" (thick to a child will make them enjoy their literature classes more chapati made of atta, gud and experiences of summer which include nostalgic in school and will break the monotony in their minds that ghee) and"Jaggery" (Gud) as summer vacations, sun-kissed mangoes, learning is difficult and a troublesome task. offering to Baba Yug . Now a Theatre works as a therapy to shed light on the feelings days people also offer "Hal- unexpected drizzling followed by the petrichor and behaviours of a person and helps teach them ways to man- wa" and "Phulian" as prasad age and overcome obstacles they struggle with. The hope is and the breezy late evenings. that by taking on specific roles a person can gain personal to Baba Yug Maharaj . Baba insight and break free from barriers. Though this process can Yug Maharaj ji fullfills the Among these things, I remember a very vital part of my life which makes me see summers in a bright light and that are be very beneficial and rewarding, it can be very difficult. Pro- desires of its devotees . The the different summer camps in Jammu. In Jammu, every year gressions and developments can be slow going, and partici- people of surrounding vil- we get the opportunity to enrol children to various camps so pants may be resistant to the process. Therefore introducing lages Satyalta, Tandhar, that they can explore their talents and creativity. There are theatre at an early age gives them the freedom to explore their Nagulta, Gharian, Dhanas, sports camps, dance camps, music camps and most impor- identity and easily develop their performing skills. Pattangarh, Sewna, Karian, tantly theatre camps. In this regard Natrang pioneered and Theatre aficionados can understand psychological poten- Charat, Pakhlai, Barmeen, has been hosting theatre camps for children every year since tial of theatre. It gives everyone confidence to speak in pub- Malad Satyalta, etc too come the year 1990 which focuses on child development, creativi- lic without the jitters as it beats stage fright and it makes artists here every year for prayers ty, stage craft, costume designing, acting, dancing and music. have control over their body and mind. Similarly, for children and seek the blessings of theatre helps them to concentrate and focus on their studies. Devotees thronging the shrine of Baba Yug Maharaj Thousands of fortunate Jammu children had the occasion to Baba Yug. There is a natural work under the theatre stalwarts like Balwant Thakur, Neer- Children who engage in extra circular activities end up becom- source of water near the tem- ipate and it comprises of Dogri songs, Bhajans, Bhangada, aj Kant, Anil Tickoo and Sumeet Sharma. The products of ing more aware and enlightened about their surroundings, ple. Lambi-Bhakh etc . Natrang children camps have excelled in every field and most making them smatter than the ones who shy away from any TRADITIONAL YATRA The mela of Baba Yug was started in the year 2012 after of them are the frontrunners of many profes- sional streams. These short programmes are The traditional yatra to Baba Yug temple and other holy a long struggle by Sarpanch Baldev Singh with the active support of the MLA Chenani K C Bhagat, Sarpanch Gian designed in a manner where children can not places is held every year since time immemorial . The farm- only learn but enjoy their summers with the help Chand Sharma, Sarpanch Vijay Kumar, Sarpanch Dev Raj ers after the cultivation of new crops; i.e; maize, wheat and of professional training because their big and much assisted by the members of Himalayan Social paddy (rice); first offer the prasad to these devsthans . dreams deserve big platforms. There is a belief that due to this the production increases Welfare & Development Society Sewna J&K .Mela was John is a good student, attends all classes, and rains will be on time. The blessings of Baba Yug inaugurated by the then MLA K C Bhagat, in 2013 the mela does his home-work on time, does not question Maharaj Ji are also on the bovine animals. was inaugurated by the then MP Ch Lal his parents and is the most well behaved child Before consuming the milk products people BABA YUG MELA Singh, in 2014 the mela was inaugurated in the town. Jerry is a brat, she is never organ- offer prasad of milk and desi ghee to Baba Yug MAY 31 by then MLA K C Bhagat . In the year 2015, ised, has many friends and does not sleep at Maharaj Ji . the mela was inaugurated by MLA night. John is good, Jerry is bad. They both are The yatra to Baba Yug starts from Chenani Dina Nath Bhagat . 7 year olds living in different houses having dif- Sewna, Karian, Satyalta, Charat, HOW TO REACH YUGDHAR ferent obstacles and different abilities to meet After aarti and havan, Tandhar, Nagulta, Gharian Dhanas, There are mainly two ways to pro- those challenges. In India we don’t need to focus on child development or child psychology issues, Pattangarh, Malad Satyalta . After ceed to Yugdhar. First is from Chenani every devotee pays it is a western thing we say. We have forever paying obeisance at Nagon Ka Pani town and the second way is from Sam- heard that line haven’t we? Only problem: it is a Nagdevta Mandir, Malpa Mata, Nars- homage to 'Baba Yug’. roli (Aarsian) National Highway: inghdev Mandir, Mahamaya Mata terrible myth. We need to understand that every The first path to Yugdhar is from child is different; they have different energies and different kind of activity. For the overall development of a child it is Mandir, Dadi Ther Mandir, Siya Devi, A bhandara is also Chenani town and it is 18 KMs long ways of looking at the world. And child psychology is a uni- important to introduce them to theatre as it is a live art, it Pakkaan Devi temple, Dadi Bhaskaar .From Chenani town to Badansoo versal issue. It does not have gender bias or cultural bias. One focuses on change and it is the most updated live art form. temple, Kalika Mata temple, the yatra arranged by the local about 14 kms belt , there is road con- will be John who would never question things and obey what When children see problems being solved on the stage, reaches and Yugdhar temple from dif- nectivity and the remaining four kms the society will impose on him and the other will be Jerry they get the assurance that in real life too, things will fall in ferent locations . They pay obeisance people of the surrounding place. Regular theatre exposure will obliterate insecurities is on foot . In this path one can take the whose curiosity will keep her up all night. In theatre, that’s to Baba Yug Maharaj Ji and obtain his the first rule we follow, we acknowledge that every child has and various complexes in children. The sense of inferiority is blessings of Pakkaan Devi, a goddess blessings . The people arrange bhan- villages. Different stalls potential and they have different levels of creativity. removed with Stalinist ruthlessness as soon as a child steps daras for the pilgrims . They pray to who is situated at Pattidhar .There are School these days have become individual rat race grounds on stage. With hundreds of people in the audience watching Baba Yug Maharaj Ji for the peace, of eatable like sweets, several other ancient holy temples where competition is the central element of every examina- a play, a child on stage feels that what he says or feels is being prosperity, good health, happiness, which includes Shivji Mandir at Tand- tion. Theatre in this aspect focuses on team work and team heard. This gives them a sense of accomplishment and confi- development, growth, common pakodas, tea, etc are also har near Chenani bridge Suryaputri spirit. In theatre we teach children to appreciate different art dence which they never feel otherwise. Our society needs to brotherhood of the people, country Tawi river, etc . works and prevent a child to become a snollygoster in the give opportunity to every child to be able to perform and tell and world . arranged in the mela. The second way to Yugdhar is from future. Now a day’s appreciation has taken a backseat and their side of the story.’’ What’s right is what’s left if you do MELA BABA YUG Samroli (Aarsian) National Highway which is about 13 kms most people focus on tarring and feathering others rather than everything else wrong’’, let the words of Robin Williams be remembered and help people understand that theatre should long and the whole path is on foot .The advantage is that having a mutual appreciation.

Load more

  1

Copy Link