Jatra Japon

Bengal’s favourite ‘Jatra’ has dominated the field of folk theatre since time immemorial. Jatra is jatra in its name, its structure, its history and its proximity to the people of Bengal. Though jatra is not specific to the state of Bengal, it is intricately linked to the lives of Bengalis such that many would speak of a ‘mama’, a ‘kaka’, a ‘dadu’, a ‘pishi’ or, ‘baba’ to be associated with it either as a pastime or as a profession. Bengalis are nostalgic of jatra’s erstwhile glory, but even today jatra survives despite facing stiff competition from other forms of media. Bengal has immortalised jatra in literature, music, cinema, photography and of course in popular art. In recent years, jatra has provided rich data in understanding the nationalist movement in India, issues surrounding theatrical transvestism and performance in general. It has also successfully provided a unique identity to places such as Chitpur in Kolkata and Nandakumar in Midnapore. Jatra also continues to serve as a livelihood for many, sometimes to those from outside the state of Bengal. Today, jatra may give the impression of the fading arts, but is it really so? Maybe one should look for jatra in places never sought before, hoping to locate a new diversified form of the theatre.

- Amrita Middey