Kariyila

• One of the most intriguing and well-known folk drama genres of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh is kariyila, also known as kariyala.
• In the Himachal Pradesh districts of Shimla, Solan, and Sirmour, this open-air folk theatre style is especially well-liked.

Bhand Pather

• It is a traditional folk theatre from Kashmir which is a prominent variety of Indian Theatre.
• It has been mentioned in Natya Shastra.
• It is a form of folk theatre from Jammu and Kashmir that incorporates both historical narratives and contemporary social satire.
• It has a secular attitude while being performed by Muslims.
• It includes dancing, singing, and acting.

Ankyaa Naat

• It is a classic Assamese one-act play that dates back to the 15th and 16th centuries AD and was created by the illustrious Vaishnava Saint Sankaradeva and his student Madhavdev.
• The epic presentation of it depicts scenes from Lord Krishna’s life.
• The plays are written in Brajavali, a language that combines Assamese and Maithili.

Ramlila

• A renowned folk theatre in the region of Uttar Pradesh is called Ramlila.
• The Ramayana is performed along with songs, dances, and dialogues that occur in the days before Dussehra.
• The majority of the time, male actors who also play Sita execute it.
• In 2008, UNESCO designated the Ramlila celebrations as part of the “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.”

Ramman

• It is a ritualistic theatre dedicated to the local deity Bhumiyal Devta in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand.
• It is listed on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity maintained by UNESCO.
• The members of the Bhandari caste dress in a Narasimha-themed religious mask (half-man and half-lion).

Bhavai

• A well-known type of Rajasthani folk theatre is bhavai.
• This form heavily relies on dance to convey the plot of several short plays.
• The players balance a number of clay pots or metal pitchers while addressing the fundamentally amorous theme of the play.
• Semi-classical music performed in a distinctive folk style on instruments like the dholak and jhanjhar complements the presentation.
• The sutradhar is referred to as Nayaka in the Bhavai theatre.

Daskathia

• A well-known kind of Odisha folk theatre is daskathia.
• Gayaka, the lead vocalist, and Palia, the co-narrator, are the two narrators in this form.
• Dramatic music played on the Kathia, a wooden musical instrument, is used to enhance the narrative.
• The story’s main character is Lord Shiva.
• A close variation of this genre is the Chhaiti Ghoda, which features three narrators, two musical instruments (the dhol and mohuri), and two musical instruments.

Ojapalli

• The Manasha or Serpent Goddess festival is connected with the distinctive Assamese story theatre form known as Ojapali.
• There are three distinct sections to the story: Baniya Khanda, Bhatiyali Khanda, and Deva Khanda.
• Oja serves as the primary narrator, while Palis makes up the choir.

Powwada

• It is performed throughout the regions of Maharashtra.
• When Shivaji defeated Afzal Khan, a play honoring Shivaji’s bravery was written.
• This play is today known as Powada.
• These folk musicians, the Gondhalis and Shahirs, sing operatic ballads that depict acts of valor.

Naqal

• It is a performance based on imitation and is based in Punjab (Naqal) and Uttar Pradesh (Bhand).
• The performer is also known as ‘Behroopiya’ or ‘Naqalchi’ (impersonator).
• To convey a social or political point, he employs humor, oddities, wit, and humor.
• Artists from the Muslim Bhand Community perform it.

Yaksha Gana

• It is one of the earliest theatrical customs that are still current in Karnataka and some areas of Kerala.
• It was performed in the royal courts of the Vijayanagara period by a unique group known as Jakkula Varu.
• Initially, it was mostly a solo performer’s descriptive dance-drama.
• Later iterations included more variables and transformed into a typical dance drama. It was significantly influenced by the Vaishnava Bhakti Movement.

Burra Katha

• A well-known Andhra Pradesh storytelling custom is Burra Katha.
• Its name comes from the Burra, a percussion instrument that is regularly used in performance.
• The performance is led by a major artist or storyteller, and the rhythm and chorus are provided by two co-artists.

Tal-Maddale

• Tal is a kind of cymbal, and Maddale is a kind of drum. It is typically thought of as Yakshagana’s precursor.
• A Bhagavata tells the tale with the aid of several Arthadharis.
• The drama is presented seated, without acting, dancing, or costumes.
• Kerala and coastal Karnataka are where it is most commonly practiced.

Kuruvanji

• The 300-year-old Kuruvanji is renowned for its classical Tamil poetry and tunes.
• The first Kuruvanji was composed by Thirukutarajappa Kaviyar.
• The focus of the story is a woman who is in love. Kuruvanji, who is also known as the “fortune teller,” foretells the heroine’s future.
• The primary dance style in Tamil Nadu is called Bharatnatyam, and it is performed in a dancing ballet style.

Jatra

• The popular folk theatre Jatra is performed in eastern India.
• The tradition was established by Vaishnava Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and is typically performed outside.
• Throughout his travels through rural Bengal, he disseminated Lord Krishna’s teachings using the Jatra medium.
• Later, versions that recount tales based on Puranic customs emerged, like Rama Jatra, Shiv Jatra, and Chandi Jatra.
• In recent times, Jatra was used to narrate tales with secular, historical, and even patriotic themes.
• A well-known kind of street theatre in Odisha is called Sahi Jatra.