Living Traditions: Festival of Uttar Pradesh – Day 1

Presentation of Alha by Jitendra Chaurasia & group

Alha is a prominent folk poem from the regions of Awadh and Bundelkhand, of which the latter is on the border of Madhya Pradesh. Believed to have been composed around 1250 AD by poet Jagnik in a combination of Bundeli and Awadhi languages, Alha is based on the heroic tales of brave men like Alha and Udal from Mahoba. From the end of monsoon through autumn, many versions of songs from Alha are performed either solo or in group, in various styles to the accompaniment of dholak, a popular percussion instrument.

Pai Danda dance by Akhilesh Yadav & group

Pai Danda is a martial form of dance practised mainly in the districts of Hamirpur, Mahoba and Banda by young male members of the Ahir (milkmen) tribe. This form is woven around the life and heroic deeds of Lord Krishna where performers wear attractive dresses, colourful flowers and anklets, and move in a circle wielding a wooden post. It is commonly performed through the months of Bhadrapada and Magh.

Beti Bachao: A Bundeli folk play

A Presentation by Dr. Himanshu Dwivedi & group

This stage presentation in Bundeli deploys swang (meaning to imitate or mimic), which is a popular and entertaining folk play tradition prevalent in U.P. and its neighbouring states of Rajasthan and Haryana.

Presented by a group of 25 artistes, the play brings to the fore the deep-rooted gender bias in society and sends out a strong message about empowering women. The play also includes songs accompanied by dance and local instruments like manjira, ghanta, zinka, etc., as well as popular instruments such as harmonium and dholak.

Box Office now open.