বাংলা লোকনাট্যে কৃষ্ণযাত্রার বিবর্তন : একটি সংক্ষিপ্ত আলোচনা/ The Evolution of Krishna-Yatra in Bengali Folk Theatre : A Brief Discussion

Abstract

Among the folk theater traditions of Bengal—known as 'Yatra'—the ‘Krishna-Yatra’ was once a highly prevalent form. Today, however, this ‘Krishnayatra’ has become nearly extinct. The tradition of Bengali 'Yatra' originally began with this specific genre, which is primarily based on the narratives of the Krishna-Leela (the divine exploits of Lord Krishna). At one time in Bengal, the Krishna-yatra enjoyed a level of popularity that surpassed all other forms of 'Yatra'; indeed, even Chaitanyadev himself used to perform in this type of theatrical production—a fact we learn from the biographical accounts of his life. Although the tradition witnessed widespread expansion during the era of Chaitanya and in the subsequent period, by the beginning of the eighteenth century, the narratives of Krishna were being propagated through the medium of obscenity in musical forms such as Dhop kirtan, kheur, kabi-gana, half-akharai. This marked a decline in the refined cultural sensibilities of Bengal. However, towards the end of the eighteenth century and the beginning of the nineteenth, Krishna - Yara was reformed and staged anew, leading to its widespread resurgence. During this period, 'Krishna -Yatra' attained immense popularity, largely through the contributions of several playwrights and actors. Prominent among these playwrights and actors were Shishuram Adhikari, Badan Adhikari, Paramananda Adhikari, Gobinda Adhikari, Krishnakamal Goswami, and Nilkantha Mukhopadhyay, among others. Despite its immense popularity, the reach of Krishna-Yatra began to gradually decline within a relatively short period; in this article, I have endeavored to highlight the various factors responsible for this decline. I have provided brief profiles of the Palakars and briefly discussed the major roles they played in the evolution of this distinct form of Yatra. Furthermore, I have attempted to present select examples of their plays. Concurrently, this article seeks to explore and elucidate the origins of Krishna-Yatra, its subsequent development, and the underlying causes that have led it to the brink of near-extinction.