Date:02/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/02/stories/2008120250880200.htm

Other States - Orissa

Traditional ‘pala’ finds patrons

Shyamhari Chakra

Some 18 troupes are invited from the State
It is an effort to revive 400-year-old popular folk theatre

BHUBANESWAR: The dying arts tradition of pala – the 400-years-old popular folk theatre of Orissa – has found a saviour in the Prafulla Pathagara of Jagatsinghpur district, one of the prominent cultural institutions of the State.

Gramya Sahitya Bikash Samsad – an offshoot of the institution engaged in conservation and popularisation of literature and culture in rural region – hosted a four-day State-level pala competition on its premises at Odishagarh last week, inviting 18 troupes from various parts of the State.

Six troupes were short-listed for the final round that awarded three winner troupes. “Our objective is to revitalise the marginalised troupes by hosting an annual competitive pala festival,” explained Pathagara secretary Bijay Pati.

Honoured

For their pioneering contribution towards popularisation of pala, Umesh Chandra Mohapatra (Baleswar district), Niranjan Roul (Jagatsinghpur) and Bhaskar Chandra Sahoo (Cuttack) were conferred Chhanda Bibhusan, Tatvabibhusan and Lasyabibhusan titles respectively during the concluding ceremony.

Lifetime achievement award – Chhanda Martanda – was conferred on Banamali Pati of Jagatsinghpur district on the occasion.

“While the government has no concern for our dying ancient arts practices, this much needed encouragement for pala artistes would go a long way in its conservation,” hailed the awardees.

A deliberation on the revival of pala was a part of the festival that was chaired by Prafulla Pathagara president Hrudananda Samantasimhara and attended by Odissi music scholar Kirtan Narayan Padhi, Odissi dance guru Naba Kishore Mishra of Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya, advisor to the Pathagara and Commissioner of Income Tax Prasanna Kumar Das and writer-journalist Gourahari Das who delivered the key-note address.

“There is the need to bring in certain changes in presentation of the pala to suit the contemporary sensibility. Extensive use of Odissi music would also help it in its popularisation,” he opined.