LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 11 : 5 May 2011
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         S. M. Ravichandran, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.

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Brechtian Theories and Practices in the Theatre of
Hill Jaatra

D. R. Purohit and Hemant Kumar Shukla

Abstract

The present investigation focuses on the theatre of Hill Jaatra of Kumaon region of Uttarakhand from the view point of Brechtian idiom. Hill Jaatra is the festival of pastoralists and agriculturists which provides ample opportunity of entertainment and enjoyment to the agriculturists, pastoralists, laborers, and workers.

The present paper tries to assess and establish theatrical paradigms and structures which are similar to Brecht's theory or depart from it. In the same process, it has attempted to highlight the profound aesthetic content and value of the Uttarakhand's theatre of Hill Jaatra.

Key Words: Hill Jaatra, epic actor, 'Indra Jaatra', Mahar, Athaun, episodic, empathy, complete transformation.

Hill Jaatra

Hill Jaatra is made of two words -'Hill' and 'Jaatra'. In local dialect, 'Hill' means 'mud', 'wet' and 'Jaatra' means 'procession'. 'Hill Jaatra', some people think, is a distortion of 'Hal (plough) Jaatra'. According to them, it simply means the adoration of plough which is the fundamental agricultural instrument used to furrow the land. Dev Singh Pokharia1 writes, "The word 'Hill' is related to Sanskrit word 'Ilah' which means the Earth. 'Hill' and 'Jaatra' denote 'mud' and 'procession' respectively in Kumaoni language. Thus, 'Hill Jaatra' stands for the procession held when the earth is mud-spattered and damp."

The Ritual

'Hill Jaatra' is a unique processional theatre enacted at the time of rainy season when the Earth is mud-spattered and soggy. It acquires its name thus because this annual processional festival is celebrated with a pomp and show in the month of 'Bhadrapad' which is essentially a rainy season in Uttarakhand. This is basically a ritual exercise in the form of processional theatre.

This festival-ritual-theatrical exercise reflects the folk's passionate urge to bring about immense prosperity in their agriculture centered economic activities. The folks of dozens of villages of the 'SoreValley' wait enthusiastically for this dearly loved festival to be held.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

D. R. Purohit
Professor in English
Department of English
H.N.B.Garhwal University
Uttarakhand
India

Hemant Kumar Shukla
Asssistant Professor in English
Government Degree College
Talwari-Tharali 246482
District Chamoli
Uttarakhand
India
hemantkumar.shukla1@gmail.com Corresponding Author
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