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 National Folklore Support Centre is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, registered in Chennai dedicated to the promotion of Indian folklore research, education, training, networking and publications. This year they are celebrating 50 years of Ford Foundation in India, and 150 years of the Government Museum, Chennai. On March 6, Folklore of Maharashtra presented three art forms.
 Chitrakatha: This is performed by a sect of people called Takar Shedul. A three member group presented the story of 'Lava and Kusha' from Ramayana. The person sitting in the centre is the Nayak of the group who presents the story with the help of paintings and he plays the Tanpura also. The other two perform the part of the chorus, as well as the musicians. They play the 'Janj' and the
'Udaku'.
 Dhonageet: This is a totally women folk art. The women sing with the help of the wooden spoons used for cooking. They also dance around in a circle (very similar to Tamil Nadu's own ' Kummiattam'). They clap their hands, for the beat, as they move around.
Tamasha
 is another form of a play where the performance is done on streets, the eve before the marriage and during festivals like Holi. This is totally restricted to the men and some of them dress up as women for the play. On the wedding eve the groom and his friends celebrate the last night as a bachelor. This is just the
Maharashtrian version of the 'Bachelor's Party'.
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Praveena
Published on 8th March 2002
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