Many a times I've wondered how the traditions n folklore get passed on to next generation.I got my answer yesterday.I was at annual mela(fun fair) celebrating the divineness of lord rameshwar, the presiding deity of vengurla city.
It was around half past midnight when, after the palaquin procession of lord rameshwar ended, a play in local language started. They call it as 'Dashavatar' - literally translated as play of 'dash' ( ten ) + 'avatars' ( incarnations) of lord Vishnu...the play has all the elements of entertainment - drama, thrill, suspense, intense emotions and action. Until the TV was introduced to my native play, the dashavatar plays were prominent source of entertainment for the local people. These dashavatar plays are adaptations of mythological stories and local folklore that are based on the hindu deities like Lord Mahadev, Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Kali etc.
The actors in these plays are local people who are mostly farmers and act in these plays out of passion. It is said and I was amazed by the fact that the script for the play on that particular day is decided on then n there and there are no special practice sessions.
It is through these plays that most of the tradional values and folklore are passed on from generations to generations keeping alive the local traditions and keeping intact the social fabric...truly wonderful and incredible ways of the land that they call - India!
It was around half past midnight when, after the palaquin procession of lord rameshwar ended, a play in local language started. They call it as 'Dashavatar' - literally translated as play of 'dash' ( ten ) + 'avatars' ( incarnations) of lord Vishnu...the play has all the elements of entertainment - drama, thrill, suspense, intense emotions and action. Until the TV was introduced to my native play, the dashavatar plays were prominent source of entertainment for the local people. These dashavatar plays are adaptations of mythological stories and local folklore that are based on the hindu deities like Lord Mahadev, Vishnu, Goddess Durga, Kali etc.
Characters playing Goddess Vajreshwari, Lord Shankar and other mythological characters.
Actors playing characters of Demon Vajrasura and lady protagonist
Actor playing Lord Shankar
Actors playing charaters of sage Narad Muni(standing) and Demon Kalika(sitting on stage)
The actors in these plays are local people who are mostly farmers and act in these plays out of passion. It is said and I was amazed by the fact that the script for the play on that particular day is decided on then n there and there are no special practice sessions.
It is through these plays that most of the tradional values and folklore are passed on from generations to generations keeping alive the local traditions and keeping intact the social fabric...truly wonderful and incredible ways of the land that they call - India!
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