Gleaming with joy, some children were running around to see what’s going on while others waited for their chance to ride a swing. Engrossed in the earthen pot making process and the dance performances they had never seen before, children seemed completely absorbed at the National School of Drama which is celebrating the eighth edition of Bal Sangam, a festival of folk and traditional arts presented by children practicing these arts in different regions of the country.
Bal Sangam is a biennial event by Sanskaar Rang Toli, a Theatre-in-Education Company, which is celebrating its silver jubilee this year. The weeklong festival commenced on the Children’s Day and is focusing primarily on the folk theatre from the north-eastern states. There are groups from Tinsukia, Assam; Tura, Meghalaya; West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh and Darrang, Assam, to name a few, presenting a glimpse of their diversity.
Interestingly, it also brings the unexplored talents and traditional performing arts by children from this region. The artistes are not trained or taught; they have inherited from their families who still practice these performing arts which are now on the verge of extinction.
It includes some of the most amazing folk dance performances like Jaxoi, Huroi or Baisangi, Jang Bihu, Wangala Bamboo Dance, Kabui Naga, Pung Cholam, Dhol Dholak Cholom, Maibi Jagoi, Khamba Thoibi, Thabi Kakpa, Thang Ani Yannaba, Thang Ahum Yannba, Thangjao Yannba, Thang Ta Chainba, Thang Leiteng Haiba, Yetthang Oithang Yannba, Farkanti, Bardai Sikhla, Raidwng Shipnai, Garia, Lebang Boomani, Mamita and many more.
“The North-east region has a very rich traditional and cultural heritage. Some art forms are so rare and exquisite that it has become the need of the hour that they be brought back into the limelight and be given due attention they so rightfully deserve,” says Ratan Thiyam, NSD Chairperson.
Besides dance performances, there are some folk theatre performances from several states like Bali Wadh and Dwapar Lila from Jharkhand; RaasLeela from, Manipur, Yakshagana Dance Drama from Karnataka; Gosian Pather and Darz-E-Pather deom Kashmir, Maach from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, Purlia Chhou from West Bengal and many more. The idea is to provide a platform to the original theatres without the touch of modernism.