Shadow Correspondent
jammu, Jan, 23
Natraj Natya Kunj Jammu’s nationally acclaimed and J&K State Cultural Academy awarded Dogri play “Urubhangam” is invited in Kumbh Mela 2019. Sanskriti Kumbh, Organised by Government of Uttar Pradesh and Ministry of culture, Govt of India, will feature many National and International performances from India as well as Abroad. Highly professional team of 18 artists will leave for Prayagraj on 29th of January and will present the play on 31st of January 2019 at Sarasvati Manch. Kumbh Mela is one of the oldest and largest congregations in the world. The significance of Kumbh Mela has been enhanced at the Global level as the UNESCO has inscribed Kumbh Mela on the list of Intangible Cultural heritage for humanity in 2017. This time Kumbh is being organized in the city of Prayagraj which is located at the confluence of the Ganges, the Yamuna and Mystic river of Saraswati in Uttar Pradesh. The Unity in Diversity characteristic of India also reaches its prime level with such a glorious event.
Originally written by Mahakavi Bhaas the play is adapted in Dogri by Kumar.A. ‘Bharti’, Designed by Abhishek Bharti and Directed by Aaditya Bharti, Urubhangam is one of the oldest surviving Sanskrit plays, written by Bhasa in the second or third century A.D. It is inspired by the description of the last war in the great Indian epic Mahabharata. The Kauravas have been defeated, and hundred men of the dynasty have been killed. Duryodhan and Bheem Sen appear in battle field, and a gada fight between the two kings starts. All of a sudden Bheem Sen hits Duryodhana’s thighs with his gada and crushes the thighbones. Balram, Guru of Duryodhan & Bheem is burning in fury and wants to take revenge, insisting that it cannot be forgiven that Bheem Sen has violated the rules. Duryodhan requests Balram not to take revenge as he thinks that what has happened must be the will of the ultimate Lord. Dhritarashtra, the father of hundred heroes, becomes very upset to see that his only spared son is going to leave him forever by reason of a deceitful club fight. Asvatthama suddenly appears in the mournful atmosphere of the battlefield and pledges that he will begin war in the night, causing all the Pandavas to burn to death. Balram says to Duryodhan that nobody can stop Asvatthama, when he has once decided to destroy the Pandavas.
The god of Death has sent the aerial car drawn by a thousand swans, to fetch the brave to the heavens. The expression of the production is episodic representation rather than sequential dialogue, and should therefore be considered as highly experimental. Highly stylized acting style of Sanskrit theatre is maintained but combined with the folk style of Dogra region. Talking to the media President of the group Kumar.A.’Bharti’ informed that, it is for the first time that a Dogri play is invited to Kumbh Mela. It’s a matter of great pride for the Dogras, Dogri language and theatre that Dogri play is going to be presented in such a big event. The team includes Abhishek Bharti, Mukesh Bakshi, Akshay Razdan, Amandeep Sharma, Kanav Sharma, Abhishek Sharma, Karan, Aaditya Bharti, Shammi Dhamir, Niharika Sakshi, Tejan Bharti, Priya Sharma, Hema Shivgotra, Anshika Sharma, Aakash Sharma.
