Reviving the theatre of valley

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The ancient tradition of Bhand Pather, a folk performance genre from Kashmir, is trying to find a slot in mainstream theatre, taking up new themes and adopting the repertory style of rendition.
To keep alive the tradition, M.K. Raina an eminent theatre, cinema and television personality presented a three-day long festival in the city titled “Revisiting Bhand Pather”, focussing on the present state of affairs of the Bhand Pather, an age-old traditional Natya-Prayoga (dance-drama) of Kashmir, whose existence is presently threatened due to various socio-political, economic and other factors prevalent in Kashmir.
“The millennia-old performance genre is practised usually by Shaivite seers across the valley in open spaces,” shared Raina, who brought to the capital a repertory ensemble of 23 artists to stage three plays, Gosain Pather, Shikargah Pather and Badshah Pather.
“They need space and money to survive. Several Bhand artists have left their vocation in the last decade in favour of alternative livelihoods.” shared the director of the play.