India 7-bare-bones - India 7 FOLK TRADITIONS I IV Introduction A Today we will look at two examplescase studies of the Little Tradition in India B We

India 7 FOLK TRADITIONS I. Introduction A. Today we will look at two examples—case studies— of the Little Tradition in India B. We will look at storytelling from the hot, arid area of Rajasthan in NW India—by Pakistan C. And we will look at folk song from the lush, green area of Bengal in NE India and neighboring Bangladesh D. We will focus on 1. The role of folk traditions in the lives of rural people 2. The role of folk traditions and political independence E. Read article in Reader about the variety of folk traditions in India II. Storytelling (JVC notes, Painted Ballad of India video) A. Painted ballads 1. Teaching and narrating with pictures is one of the oldest forms of folk entertainment in India 2. Earliest records in India of religious storytelling with pictures indicate origins in the 3 rd century, according to Buddhist texts 3. The Cave Paintings at Ajanta—later physical records of Buddhist storytelling—6 th century 4. Earliest physical evidence of this kind of entertainment that originated in India and migrated elsewhere is found in the Dunhuang caves in Northwestern China—located close to the famous Silk Road 5. While religious storytelling died out in the 11 th century in China (secular storytelling continued, however), these traditions of religious storytelling have continued to the present day in India III. Example from Rajasthan A. Traveling from village to village in the western state of Rajasthan, the itinerant bhopa narrates stories B. During the narration, relevant parts are pointed out with a lamp (during the nights) or with the bow of a small bowed fiddle, ravanahattha C. Stories are about 1. The god, Devanarayan 2. Local folk hero, Pabuji D. Stories are performed often by a husband (bhopa), wife (bhopi) and sometimes by the children E. Melodies are taken from folk songs, existing independently of the narrative context F. The Bhopa are a professional caste or jati—they own their repertory and maintain restrictions and rights G. For non-literate people, this is their “literature” (or orature)—so that this musical storytelling is an essential way to teach as well as entertain H. Example of enculturation IV.