Artistes perform at a cultural programme on the occasion of youth festival at Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir in Patna on Monday. Picture by Ashok Sinha

Patna, Dec. 27: Two senior classical artistes invited to judge performance of youths from 25 districts did not find folk dance being presented in the true form.

They felt that there was no respect for Bihar folk song and dance among the youths of Bihar. After performing on the state-level, few selected participants would perform at the National Youth Festival, which would be held in Udaipur, Rajasthan from January 12-16 next year.

Balram Lal, a judge at the programme and renowned classical and folk master of Bihar, said: “I am not happy with the performance of the participants, they are supposed to perform folk dance which is something very rustic and close to the roots, but they are going in some other direction. There is a lack of guidance and proper training.”

After a group from Buxar, Jawahar Navodaya Vidayalaya performed a Rajasthani folk dance, Balram said: “You people are going to represent Bihar and you are supposed to perform Bihari folk dance not a folk dance from some other state. If everyone starts performing folk dances from other states, then where would Bihar stand.”

The leader of the Buxar group said: “Sir, we were asked to perform a folk dance and it was not specified that it has to be Bihari folk dance.”

Balram then said: “It does not mean that a group from Bihar which will represent at the national-level shall start performing bhangra of Punjab, Bihu of Assam and Pongal of Kerala. Where do we stand now? Where is the essence of Bihar and its soil. You must keep this in your mind that it’s not your personal achievement, it’s a question about a state, a culture, a tradition and its roots.”

The other group from Muzzaffarpur, Sadhan Kala Kendra, performed a Kajri song, which was again objected to by the judges. According to the judges, they did not even perform one per cent of Kajri, considered one of the most important folk songs in Bihar.

Another judge, Vishwa Bandhu, famous choreographer and master of folk songs, said: “Kajri songs talk about the melody and it is related to songs sung in monsoon. Kajri songs represent the pleasant change that comes due to the rainy season. Not only the change in the nature but also the mental refreshment and relaxation is associated with human beings and its well described in these kind of songs. But after listening to their song and dance, it seems that they are far from knowledge of folk music.”

He further added: “Folk music is based upon poverty, sorrow, love and arguments between lovers or husbands and wives and many more topics but they have failed to do justice to it.”

One group from Aurangabad, Tanika Sanskirti Sanstha performed on Holi, which was also objected to by the judges and said that the youths of Bihar have completely forgotten the culture and tradition of Bihar.

Vishwa Bandhu said: “Holi is a festival of colours and the way it is in Bihar is completely different. In Bihar, a typical style Dhamar of Holi song is sung in which the villagers celebrate it in a group through dances with full joy. But the expression and performance is not even close to the real Holi style.”

Talking to one performer about the complaints made by the judges, Kumari Ambika from Muzzafarpur said: “Whatever the judges are saying is right but we cannot help it because we are taught this way. I think we need good teachers and trainers who can guide us in a proper way and can give knowledge about Bihar folk dances and songs.”