Pandav Lila

''Pandav Lila'' or ''Pandav Nritya'' (Sanskrit; literally "play of the Pandavas" and "dance of the Pandavas" respectively) is a ritual re-enactment of stories from the Hindu epic ''Mahabharata'', through singing, dancing and recitation, that is practised in the Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India. Pandavas are the five protagonists in the epic and the village amateurs take on their roles and perform the ''lila'' outdoors, accompanied by the folk instruments dhol, damau and two long trumpets called bhankore. The performances, which can last anywhere from three days to a month in different villages, draw large crowds and are an important cultural highlight of the year. The ritualistic drama features actors who often spontaneously become "possessed" by the spirits of their characters and begin to dance.

History and format

The origins of the ''Pandav Lila'' are intermingled with Hindu history . It has always been performed by village amateurs, and not professionals, and is usually sponsored by the Rajputs of Uttarakhand. A performance is often called a Śrāddha, which is a Hindu ritual of ancestor worship, and the ''lila'' is seen as a form of ancestor worship; today, many Garhwalis self-identify as the descendants of the Pandavas. The performances are usually held between November and February, and a particular village may not host it every year. People may travel to a nearby village to witness the ''lila''. Sax writes that "most villagers in Garhwal are probably within walking distance of a ''pandav lila'' in any given year".

Every village can have its own variation, and some may place a greater emphasis on singing or drama. The performances begin at night and last till early mornings. The episodes from the epic are not necessarily performed in a linear order, as the intention is not to convey the epic's story but dance out or enact specific scenes that the artists or villagers are familiar with. As the story progresses and the action intensifies, they begin to start earlier in the day and continue till morning next day. The most-awaited episode is often a battle between a father and a son, Arjuna and Nagarjuna, which is known by the name ''gainda'' (Hindi for rhinoceros), as it involves Arjuna killing the rhinoceros that belongs to his son.
The weapons used in the drama are worshipped and are never allowed to touch the ground, so they can retain their power, and are taken care of till the next ''lila''. As it is practically impossible to enact the whole of ''Mahabharata'', the longest epic poem in existence, the performers can choose their own episodes for enactment.

Notes

Bibliography

*{{cite book , last=Sax , first=William Sturman , date=2002 , title=Dancing the Self: Personhood and Performance in the Pāṇḍava Līlā of Garhwal
, publisher=Oxford University Press , isbn= 9780195139150

External links

A performance of ''Pandav Nritya'' in Sutol village, UttarakhandUNESCO ICHCAP Project - Archival Recordings

Hindu traditions
Garhwal division
Culture of Uttarakhand
Works based on the Mahabharata
Theatre in India
Musical theatre
Religious vernacular drama
Cultural heritage of India
Dances of India
Indian folk dances
Indian folk culture