Jatras (Mobile Drama Troupes)

Jatras (Mobile Drama Troupes)

4 mins
525


Having spent the greater part of growing up years in a gated community and obviously a cosmopolitan society, certain annual events stay like rock carvings in the mind. Since this is now history unwritten, thought I'd share some rib tickling moments with generation Z.

The prep up started soon after Lakshmi Puja. The vacant plot outside the factory gates, which doubled up as play ground and venue for outdoor events, would see a sea change. Road rollers would be seen at work, leveling the grounds; holes would be drilled into the hard, barren soil cover and bamboo poles firmly placed inside, to hold up the shamianas, set up for the audience. Chairs neatly arranged in rows faced the stage in front, erected on a raised wooden platform where all the drama unfolded.

It was a six day affair, starting post Kali Puja, culminating with an evening of singing and dancing to the Bollywood hits of that era. The most popular one 'hasta hua Noorani Chehera...' from the film Parasmani, had the entire troupe performing, dressed in their best, their sequenced dupattas flying like kites raising a colorful toast.

The chilly winter evenings had us wrapped up in thick woolens, not excluding the monkey caps stretched right down to the nape of the neck. Cotswool dresses knee length and woolen socks meeting the dress hemline, ensured no part of the skin was exposed to the wind, cold and mosquitoes. They arrived in armies to attack the spectators. Performers at times were confused hearing clapping between dialogue delivery..for what??? Killing mosquitoes was part of the entertainment deal!

Much as we hated this attire, we went along with it, as it was conditional to attending the Jatra evenings. 'Thanda lege Jabe' ...you'll catch a cold..was the stock reply from Ma if we fussed too much. Like eager beavers, Dad herded us all for the short walk to the grounds. His love for watching those epic Jatras far exceeded his love for the evening glass of whiskey, he always enjoyed before dinner. And I can't say it was any less for us.

Now at 6 years, innocents as lambs, it was hard to figure out the sudden eruption of laughter from the audience, for a seemingly serious scene, where Rawan arrives in the guise of a sadhu to take away Sita to Lanka. Till a closer look revealed Sitaji standing shame faced with her bald pate, striped underwear with hanging drawstrings! Poof! Wardrobe malfunctioning as they term it today. The stage lights were turned off quickly, with Sitaji making a hasty retreat to the make shift green room behind. And returns again with her wig in place, and saree firmly pinned this time, mouthing her dialogues in a nasal voice. The bout of laughter subsiding therewith.

Another time, saw Hanumanji's tail dislodged, and landing like a flying saucer in the audience! Hanumanji of course oblivious to all this, continued to perform the antics his role demanded, while the audience rolled in laughter. Needless to mention, the retrieved tail, found it's way back to the apologetic stage manager. Or the time Hanumanji swung his gada so fiercely, breaking the round top part landing like a shower of meteors on Ramji's face, knocking off his crown and all. Fresh burst of laughter rent the cold winter evening lifting the already gay spirits!

And lest I forget, the funniest was seeing smoke puffs from Sita's lips when delivering her lines. A quick drag on bidi tucked behind her ears, when her back was turned to the audience, never went unnoticed, never failed to evoke more laughter. All in all, some lessons learnt on Mahabharata and Ramayan, laced with humorous gaffes.

The troupe moved from one town to another the entire jatra season, lasting till end of January.

And we kept waiting every year for them to turn up for those much awaited six days of fun and frolic, not restricted to us alone. Dads, Moms, and the English 'sahebs' and 'memsahebs' of the community had their share off laughter and fun. Notwithstanding the language barrier.


Rate this content
Log in

Similar english story from Drama