Last Update: January 13, 2023, 2:31 pm IST
The Rajdhari mask dance will have artistes wearing the characters of Ravana, Mahiraban, Bhibhishan, Surpanakha, Trishul, Rakshasi, Bali, Sugriva, Angat, Hanuman, Goral Kali, Bagh, Dhaikuji, Buri, Beka Sipahi, Bariyan Dheer and Jamuban.
A festival will be held in Rajdhari Pala, Mahish Mari area of Darjeeling district of North Bengal
People of the ancient Rajvanshi community live in different parts of North Bengal. They express their story and traditions through dance, songs and folktales. Their rituals revolve around the many rivers of northern Bengal. A festival will be held at Rajdhari Pala, Mahish Mari area of Darjeeling district in North Bengal. The event will be organized by the West Bengal State Academy of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts.
Chowringhee Thakur Rajdhari started this tradition of singing in 1925 in Warish Jot Basti of Khoribari. His “Pala” song was very popular among the royals of Matigara, Siliguri, Thakurganj of Bihar and Nepal. The royals of Khoribari Warish Jot Basti in the Terai region of North Bengal still sing this 100 year old “Pala”. A major highlight of this period is the ‘Rajdhari Mask Dance’ or ‘Lanka Geet’. In ancient times, Lanka songs were sung throughout the night for seven consecutive days. Over the years, this has been reduced to four days.
Today this ancient dance is becoming extinct due to lack of proper training and funds. In this context, to revive the culture of this ancient dynastic people, the West Bengal State Academy of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts organizes a 10-day training camp at Mahishmari, Darjeeling district in association with Purvanchal Sanskar Kendra, Ministry of Culture. Culture, Government of India. Training will be given to create various characters related to this. The Rajdhari mask dance will have performers wearing character masks of Ravana, Mahiraban, Bhibhishan, Surpanakha, Trishul, Rakshasi, Bali, Sugriva, Angat, Hanuman, Goral Kali, Bagh, Dhaikuji, Buri, Beka Sipahi, Bariyan Dheer and Jamuban.
Dr. Hemanti Chatterjee, Secretary, West Bengal State Academy of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts says, “The state academy has been doing this since 1955. Various cultural materials of different peoples are scattered in West Bengal. They are being revived and brought together and documented through print and digital media for a new generation. The State Academy is doing this conservation work for future generations. We hope that this cultural revival work and conservation will give future generations an opportunity to discover many unknown cultural treasures of West Bengal and the coming generations will take interest in researching and discovering these priceless cultural treasures.”
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