indian education - National Council Of Educational Research And ...

20 Journal of Indian Education August 2007
it more attractive for the audience. The use of masks in this form of Chhau,
remains to be its focal point even today. The making of these masks is an
independent art altogether. It needs a gifted artist to visualise the mask and
then give shape to it.
5. The Siddhis are a unique community settled along the coast of Gujarat in
Bharuch, Bhavnagar, Junagarh and Surat. Descendants of migrants who were
brought here in the 12 th century from Africa, the Siddhi still retain their native
sense of rhythm and fluid grace. Dressed in grass skirts and adorned with
peacock feathers, they perform the Dhamal on the eve of the urs of their
prophet Baba Gaur. As the dance gains tempo the dancers perform various
feats of skill. The climax of the performance culminates in the Siddhis tossing
coconuts in air only to break them on their heads. They even walk on fire.
6. Teyyam is a ritualistic dance in Kerala With its rare and fantastic make-up
and costume, lively foot work, gymnastic fervour and ritualistic vitality it
represents the folk life of Kerala.
7 Followers of Kabeer, who sing his verses.
8. http://orissagov.nic.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/nov2004/englishPdf/
raghurajpur-craftvillage.pdf.
The patachitra as the folk painting of Orissa is called has a history of great
antiquity. Raghurajpur, a small village in the Puri district, is known for its
patachitra artists and has therefore made a unique place for itself on the
cultural map of India. They exhibit the use of strong lines and striking colours
on pieces of treated cloth, dried palm leaves or paper painted by the chitrakaras.
The paintings depict themes of Indian mythology.
9. This is the art of singing out a narrative giving, it a balladic structure. It is the
recital of a mythological story or a folk tale.
10. http://indiaheritage.org/perform/folk_pandavani.htm
Pandavani is the form of story-telling belonging to Chhatisgarh, which serves
as a means of both entertaining and educating the people. It narrates the
story of the five Pandava brothers (protagonists of the epic Mahabharata). A
team of Pandavani performers consists of one main narrator-singer and one
or two musician-cum-singers, who play on the tabla and the harmonium. The
main narrator-singer holds a tambura (stringed musical instrument), decorated
with small bells and peacock feathers in one hand and kartal (a pair of cymbals)
on the other.
11. Vatsyayan, Kapila Traditions of Indian Folk Dance Indian Book Company, New
Delhi, 1976 (pg. 9).