Punjabi Folk-drama

Table of Contents

Punjabi folk drama and entertainment have a rich history and continue to be integral parts of the culture, often performed during festivals or to entertain people in villages. Below is an overview of various traditional forms:

Types of Punjabi Folk-Drama

Name	Description
Krishna-Lila (Ras-Lila)	A devotional folk-dance where worshippers, dressed as Gopis, dance around the image of Lord Krishna. This form of worship later evolved into Ras-Lila, with performers called Radharis.
Ram Lila	A 10-day performance during Navratra where the epic Ramayana is depicted. It includes key events such as Ram’s exile, the war between Ram and Ravana, and Dussehra celebrations.
Swang	A semi-religious rhythmic play based on the lives of celebrated heroes, often performed during festivals like Holi, Basant, and Dussehra, focusing on virtuous heroes like Puran Bhagat, Gopi Chand, and Haqiqat Rai.
Nautanki	A form of Swang, featuring stories of love and valor, often with a comedian included to make the audience laugh. Nautanki is meant more for entertainment than religious sentiment.
Naqal	A dance-drama performed by communities like Mirasis, Nagaals, and Bhands. Naqal, derived from a Persian word meaning ‘to imitate,’ often uses humor and satire to depict social issues.
Kheora	Folk singing performed at weddings and festivals where two groups converse rhythmically, often throughout the night, in popular tunes.

Other Traditional Entertainments

Name	Description
Madaris	Jugglers who train animals like bears or monkeys and perform in villages, often inviting the audience with a Damroo (a small drum).
Bazigars	Acrobats who use long poles and ropes to perform tightrope walking, often with a child performing on the rope.
Saperas	Snake-charmers who play the Been (a pipe) to make snakes dance, providing a captivating performance with their reptiles.

These folk art forms are not only a source of entertainment but also serve as carriers of cultural heritage, providing a platform to convey stories, social values, and humor through performance.