Page 727 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India
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inspiration from India’s rich multiplexes (with fastfood
repertoire of classical and eateries) that offer a mix of
folk forms. both Bollywood and
Hollywood films. Tickets are
more expensive here.
Puppet Shows
Puppetry in India is an
ancient tradition, especially Bars and Discos
in Odisha, Karnataka Nightlife in India is definitely
(see p539), Rajasthan, Tamil getting livelier. While Mumbai’s
Nadu, Andhra Pradesh night spots (see p467),
and West Bengal, where Bengaluru’s pub culture and
itinerant folk performers Goa’s nightlong beach parties
use string, rod, glove and and moonlight raves have
shadow puppets to tell been much pub licized, more
A multiplex in New Delhi, with a large poster of a mythological tales to a conservative towns elsewhere
Bollywood release primarily rural audience. in the country now have at
Today, many hotels orga least a few bars, pubs, pool
classical forms. At one time, nize cultural programmes for lounges or discotheques.
these indigenous forms were their foreign guests, which Jazz nights and other forms
restricted to the region of their often include a traditional of international music are also
birth. Today, promotion by puppet show. A contemporary becoming regular features in
various cultural organizations puppet theatre movement, restaurants, bars and concerts.
has given folk artistes greater dealing with socially relevant
exposure. As a result urban themes related to education,
audiences can watch Chhau, health and gender and sexu Indipop
a masked dance performed by ality, is also becoming popular. After witnessing a surge in the
men from Odisha, Bihar and 1990s and early 2000s, Indipop
West Bengal; balladeers is now less popular among the
(bhopas) and manganiyars from Cinema youth, while film music and
Rajasthan; the garba from The most popular form of songs by international artists,
Gujarat; the exuberant Punjabi entertainment is cinema, are more in demand. Music
bhangra; street theatre (jatra) especially the extravagant channels such as MTV, for
from West Bengal; traditional blockbusters from Bollywood Bollywood music, and VH1,
martial arts from Kerala; and (see pp36–7). Some excellent for international songs and
tamasha, a theatre troupe with regionallanguage films, which collaborations, are preferred.
dancers and musicians from touch on socially or politically Indipop is now limited to folk
Maharashtra. During the Dussehra relevant themes, are also made inspired bhangra pop and
festival, Ramlilas – exuberant in Kerala, West Bengal, Tamil remixes of old songs.
dramatiza tions of the epic Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Ramayana (see p31) – are held Select theatres hold special
all over North India. The most screenings of avantegarde Fairs and Festivals
elaborate of these take place by films, or New Wave Cinema, The constant cycle of fairs and
the banks of the Ganges in but these lack popular appeal. festivals is intrinsic to the Indian
Varanasi (see p207). There are cinema halls in almost way of life (see pp38–41). From
every town and large village, Holi, the fes tival of colour in
whereas the larger cities have spring, to Diwali, the festival
Contemporary Theatre
of lights at the onset of winter,
In the larger cities, goodquality there are a series of colourful
performances of Western shows celebrations that mark the
are staged. India’s first and changing seasons or mytholo
hugely successful Disney gical events, as well as countless
musical, Beauty and the Beast, temple festivals. Visitors will
is staged at regular intervals usually have ample opportunity
through the year in different to witness these vignettes
cities. There is also a very strong of the country’s cultural and
tradition of Indianlanguage religious heritage during their
theatre in Marathi, Gujarati, travels. Being invited to a home
Hindi and Bengali. The range during a festival or a traditional
covers adaptations of contem celebration can also be an
porary works by wellknown enjoyable experience.
Indian authors, musicals and Each chapter in this book
political satires. Many of these Polo Lounge, a popular bar in the Hyatt has a column highlighting the
productions, draw their Regency Hotel, Delhi main regional festivals.
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