Other States - Orissa   

Daskathia artistes fall on hard days

BERHAMPUR: The artistes of Daskathia, a traditional folk art form of Orissa, have decided to hold a State-level conference to discuss the future of their art form and its aging artists.

The State conference will be held on December 22 and 23 at Godipada in Nayagarh district. Being organised by the Nikhil Utkal Daskathia Kalakar Sangh, some 140 artistes from different parts of the State will take part in the conference. The highlight will also perform to showcase their skills and innovations.

The sangh has decided to honour 12 poets, artistes and theatre personalities of the State on the occasion. The government awarded four Daskathia artistes – Sudarsan Padhi, Suryanarayan Tripathy, Govind Chandra Moharana and Ram Chandra Moharana – last year. But the awards have not brought in visible change in their lives.

In Daskathia, two artistes narrate stories from the timeless epics through poetic singings. The only musical instrument used is the ones formed from small sticks. The sound is generated from beating these sticks.

It was quite popular in rural and urban areas a few decades back. But, with the advent of modern mediums of entertainment, it is fast losing its support base. Till now, Daskathia troupes are being used as major means of communication for government’s awareness programmes regarding health and different projects in rural areas.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Daskathia artistes fall on hard days
OMC bags prize
Winter fest 2007 begins
Abducted girl returns after 2 years
Villagers threaten not to bid for cashewnut plucking lease
Long wait for his dues
Man arrested
Young minds introduced to ‘the exciting world of science’
‘Bhubaneswar may be going the Bangalore way’

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu