A dialogue flow event was organised for art enthusiasts at Jawahar Kala Kendra on Thursday. JKK has been hosting different dialogues for the past three days. On Thursday, Experts shed light on the evolving tradition of Pali Kavad creation and recitation, which has been cherished for the past 500 years through community harmony.
Art lovers residing in urban environments gained insightful knowledge about this vanishing folk art tradition. Renowned figures in the field, including Basant Bhasi, honoured with the Presidential Award for Kavad creation from Chittorgarh, and Narshi Ram Bhat from Bhopalgarh Tehsil in Jodhpur, a follower of the recitation tradition, were part of the event.
The event concluded with the completion of the Kavad creation workshop, which had been ongoing since February 12. Eighteen participants learned the intricacies of Kavad creation from trainers Dwarika Prasad and assistant trainer Govind Lal Suthar.
Dwarika Prasad Suthar shed light on the technical aspects of Kavad creation, mentioning, “Members of the Bhat community traditionally crafted Kavads according to the preferences of their patrons. Initially, religious narratives were depicted, but now, topics like Panchatantra, Hitopadesha, and traffic rules have been incorporated into Kavad creation to align with modern interests.”
Dwarika Prasad Suthar also narrated 52 stories related to Kavad to art enthusiasts. He explained that the primary duty of the Kavadiya Bhat community is to prepare genealogical records of their patrons and recite Kavad.
Narshi Ram mentioned that the tradition of Kavad recitation has been prevalent since Satyug. He elaborated that stories are depicted in the form of pictures, each panel unfolding, and the story changing.
Gayatri Rathore, Principal Secretary of the Department of Art and Culture, and Director-General of Jawahar Kala Kendra stated that workshops and dialogue flow events organized by the centre are nurturing creativity among art enthusiasts. The Additional Director-General of the centre, Priyanka Jodhawat, noted that the participation of art lovers in the Kavad creation workshop highlights the beauty of folk art. Jawahar Kala Kendra has brought the prevalent Kavad recitation tradition from villages to cities.