Folk TheatreWhat Is Bhavai, Gujarat’s Folk Theatre?
Sharp satire, music, and a string of lively acts: a guide to Bhavai, the folk theatre of Gujarat and Rajasthan.
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Folk Theatre
Folk TheatreWhat Is Bhaona, Assam’s Devotional Theatre?
Born from a saint's one-act plays and performed in prayer halls, Bhaona is Assam's devotional theatre. Here is a simple…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Yakshagana? Costumes, Music, and Stories
Towering headgear, all-night epics, and thunderous drums: a simple guide to Yakshagana, the dance-theatre of coastal Karnataka.
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Folk TheatreNautanki vs Tamasha: What Is the Difference?
Two of India's most beloved folk theatres, side by side: where they come from, how they sound, and what sets…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Burrakatha? Andhra’s Three-Voice Storytelling Storm
One master storyteller, two quick-witted sidekicks, a tambura and a pair of drums, and a whole epic delivered at a…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Powada? Maharashtra’s Thundering Ballad of Heroes
Half history lesson, half war cry, the powada is Maharashtra's ballad of heroes, roared out by a shahir with a…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Mudiyettu? Kerala’s Rarest UNESCO Theatre Form, Explained
Once a year, in temple courtyards along three Kerala rivers, a goddess battles a demon in a ritual drama the…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Pandavani? Chhattisgarh’s One-Person Mahabharata, Explained
One performer, one tambura, and the entire Mahabharata. Pandavani is Chhattisgarh's astonishing solo epic theatre, and Teejan Bai turned it…
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Folk TheatreWhat Is Ramlila? History, Staging, and Where to Watch India’s Biggest Open-Air Theatre
Every autumn, thousands of Indian towns turn into stages for Ramlila, the epic retelling of the Ramayana. Here is where…
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