Ramayana in Art Forms and Oral Traditions
The term Ramayana, meaning the journey of Rama is a compound word, formed by the combination of Rama and ayana. The latter means journey. There are numerous different kinds of Ramayana plays, mask dances, puppet displays, and dances in India and outside India. The Ramayana has been the source of inspiration for several art forms and traditions. It, along with the Mahabharata, continues to impact Indian society in a major way.
Ramayana (the journey of Rama) = Rama + Ayana (journey)
Dance Forms:
The Ramayana is portrayed in well-known classical art forms such as Odissi, Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, Kathak, and Kathakali, etc. Kathakali emerged from Koodiyattam (literally translates to "dancing together"), Krishnattam, Koothu, etc. Kathakali acquired popularity with the masses by prioritizing dance and music over sophisticated acting, incorporating more movement and drama, and using the vernacular language, Malayalam as opposed to Sanskrit. When it comes to facial makeup and costuming, Koodiyattam exhibits significantly less exaggeration than Kathakali. Koodiyattam is formally acknowledged by UNESCO as a "Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity".
Seethakali is a folk dance from Kollam, Kerala which was traditionally performed during the Onam festival. The narrative is female-centric, narrated from the perspectives of Sita. The folk dance has been revived in recent times.
Three different Chhau styles—Saraikela Chhau from Jharkhand, Purulia Chhau from Bengal, and Mayurbhanj Chhau from Odisha—artistically narrate the Ramayana. The intricate masks, which are one of the significant features of the dance form, used in Purulia and Seraikela Chhau dances are well-known. Male artists perform it, fusing folk and martial traditions together. Like Koodiyattam, it has been declared UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Folk Theater:
The Ramayana is reenacted through the performance of the Ramlila during the festival of Dusshera, particularly in North India. It can go on for 10 to 12 days. The performers are usually local amateur actors, or children who are enthusiastic to play various characters from the epic. UNESCO designated the Ramlila celebrations too as part of the "Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity" in 2008.
Puppetry and Shadow Theatre:
In Kerala, the belief is that Tholpava Koothu was created to tell the story of the battle between Rama and Ravana to the goddess Bhadrakali, who was enmeshed in a battle with Darika and missed the fight between the two. It is a traditional storytelling art form that is historically performed with the aid of leather (thol) characters (pava) to musical accompaniment outside Bhadrakali temples. From West Bengal's Putul Naach to Tholu Bommalata of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh puppetry and shadow theatre present themes from the Ramayana.
.jpg)
One of the most popular forms of painting that is renowned for its visual representation of the Ramayana is Madhubani painting or Mithila art. Uncertainty surrounds the painting's precise origins, although it is said that Janak, the ruler of the Videha kingdom in the Mithila region of modern-day Bihar and Nepal commissioned artists to paint scenes illustrating his daughter's marriage to the prince of Ayodhya, Rama. The schools of miniature painting such as the Rajput, Mughal, Deccan and the Pahari schools during the Medieval period of India too adopted the epic as one of the subject matters. The rendition is visible on the walls of temples, forts and palaces, as relief sculptures and so on.
.JPG)
Southeast Asia:
The arts of India and Indonesia are closely tied to one another, and understanding one requires understanding the other. The absorption of Indian culture began in the Indonesian Archipelago during the first centuries of the Common Era. There are a number of theories regarding how Indonesia was impacted by India. With the spread of Buddhism and Hinduism in the region, the indigenous culture was transformed. Consequently, the adoption of Indian epics, the Mahabharata and Ramayana witnessed local treatment. The outcome of the fusion is evident in their cultures and traditions. You can read one of my writings for the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) by clicking the provided link here to learn more specific details on the Indian influence in Southeast Asia. eGyanKosh: Unit-9 Political and cultural expansion in Southeast Asia' Indonesia has the Kakawin Ramayana and the Balinese Ramakavaca, a refined adaptation of the Kakawin Ramayana. Their versions of the Ramayana are narrated artistically by various means: Sendratari Ramayana (Ramayana Ballet), Wayang Kulit, Wayang Golek, etc. Wayang Kulit is a traditional shadow theater style that is mostly seen in Bali and Java. It was customarily done for important events like weddings, childbirths, and house consecrations.
Sujiwo Tejo, an Indonesian actor as a dalang (puppeteer), accompanied by a gamelan (a musical ensemble) recites an episode from the Ramayana.
In the Cambodian version, the Reamker (dating back to the 7th c.), Rama is portrayed as a former reincarnation of the Buddha and this indigenization of the Ramayana has been reflected in their masked dance drama, Ikhon Khol, and their Khmer shadow theatre form called Sbek Thom. Traditionally, the latter was performed on special days like the king's birthday or the Khmer New Year. Thus, through the ages, the diffusion of the Ramayana occurred over a considerable portion of Southeast Asia.
Comments
Post a Comment