Folk Dramas

Khyal

1. In this drama, the artists perform the mythological and historical stories in the poetic form.
2. Stage Manager is known as Halkara.
3. Types of Khyal drama:
   1. Jaipuri Khyal
      1. The character of women played only by the women in this Khyal.
   2. Shekhawati Khyal
      1. Prominent artist
         • Nanuram
         • Duliya Rana
   3. Ali Bakshi Khyal
      1. Performed/famous at
         1. Mundawar Thikana(Alwar district)
   4. Kuchamani Khyal
      1. The character of women played by the men.
      2. Prominent artist:
         • Ugamraj
   5. Hela Khyal
      1. Performed/famous in:
         • Dausa
         • Swai Madhopur
   6. Turra-Kalangi Khyal
      1. Turra means God Shiva.
      2. Kalangi means Goddess Parwati.
   7. Bent Ka Dangal Khyal
      1. Performed/famous in
         • Dholpur
   8. Dhappali Khyal
      1. Performed/famous in
         • Alwar
   9. Kanhaiya Khyal
      1. Performed/famous in
         • Bharatpur
         • Dholpur
         • Karauli

Nautanki

1. This drama initiated by Bhurilal.
2. Performed/famous in:
   1. Alwar
   2. Bharatpur
   3. Karauli
3. Performing the deities stories/events:
   1. Alha-Udal
   2. Satyawan-Savitri
   3. Harishchandra-Taramati
   4. Amar Singh Rathore

Ramleela

1. This folk drama initiated by Tulsidas Ji.
2. Performed/famous at:
   1. Ataru(Baran)
   2. Venkatesh Temple(Bharatpur)
   3. Bisu(Jhunjhunu)
   4. Patunda(Kota)
3. Performing the deities stories/events:
   • God Ram

Rammat

1. Performed by Pushkarna Brahmins.
2. Performed/famous in:
   1. Bikaner
   2. Jaisalmer

Tamasha

1. Performed/famous in:
   • Jaipur
2. Following Tamasha are more popular in Rajasthan
   1. Jogi Jogan’s Tamasha
   2. Tamasha of Jhuttan Miya
   3. Tamasha of Gopichand

Bhawai

1. This drama is mainly performed in the southern district of Rajasthan.
2. The male and female artist represents as Saga Ji and Sagi Ji.
3. Prominent artists
   1. Roop Singh
   2. Tara Sharma
   3. Sangi Lal

Swang

1. It is an art in which the artist impersonates a mythological or historical character by wearing those characters’ costumes.
2. Prominent artists
   • Janakilal Bhand of Bikaner
     • He was also known as a Monkey man.

Gawari/Axis drama

1. This drama is the oldest folk drama of Rajasthan.
2. Performing the deities stories/events:
   • God Shiva and Goddess Parwati
   • God Shiva-Bhasamasur story

Raasleela

1. This folk drama started by Vallabhacharya.
2. Performed/famous at:
   1. Kama(Bharatpur)
      • Popularised in Bharatpur by Shivlal Kumawat
   2. Phulera(Jaipur).
3. Performing the deities stories/events:
   • God Krishna
4. Prominent artists:
   1. Ram Swaroop
   2. Hargovind

Sankadik leela

1. Performed at:
   1. Ghosunda(Chittaurgarh)
      • In the month of Ashwin
   2. Bassi(Chittaurgarh)
      • In the month of Kartik
2. Performing the deities stories/events:
   • Ganesh
   • Narsingh-Hirnaykashp
   • Gora-Kala Bheru

Charbent

1. Performed/famous in:
   • Tonk

Phar

1. The staging of the biography of a deity on a piece of cloth is called Phar.