Both the folk dances (Kandhei Naata and Pashumukha Naata) are losing their audience. So in an attempt to revive these dance forms, I with my team is performing Kandhei Naata based on Kanchi Abhiyan
Alok Sahu| Natya Sansad
Bhubaneswar: A folk dance programme, Kandhei Naata and Pashumukha Naata, during the Outreach Cultural Programme 2018-19, was organised by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Kendra in collaboration with Infosys foundation on the Bhavan’s premises Monday.
Artistes of Bichitra Barnali Natya Sansad from Digapahandi performed on the occasion.
Speaking to Orissa POST, Alok Sahu of Natya Sansad said, “Both the folk dances (Kandhei Naata and Pashumukha Naata) are losing their audience. So in an attempt to revive these dance forms, I with my team is performing Kandhei Naata based on Kanchi Abhiyan.” Explaining about Kandhei Naata he said, “The Naata or sometimes called Nrutya is performed by artistes wearing colourful attires.” He stressed that the dance has to be extremely dramatic and is filled with theatricality up to the brim.
The open theatre of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan witnessed huge crowd as many from Berhampur who are staying in the capital city thronged to watch their favourite dance or Naata.
Ashmita Basu, a researcher in Kandhei Naata, said, “During the monarchy days, the Naatas were one of the few sources of entertainment for the kings and events like this (Outreach Cultural Programme) were daily affairs.” Basu lamented that the art is dying with the audience drifting far from its culture and tradition.
After Kandhei Naata, the artistes performed Pashumukha Nrutya or Naata where artistes wear various animal outfits, and masks and perform on champu based music.
It may be noted that Bichitra Barnali Natya Sansad from Digapahandi works towards preserving Dhudki dance, Sakhi dance, Ranapa and Chadeya Naata.
Manmath Satpathy, associate director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, said, “It’s heartening to see that there are artistes left who are working passionately to save our folk dance.”
Caption
Artistes perform Pashumukha Naata at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bhubaneswar, Monday
Artistes during Kandhei Naata, Monday
