Lights dim for Assam’s roving theatre troupes
The Hindu
COVID-19 has hit Assam’s itinerant theatre groups hard, forcing several artists to find other forms of livelihood. Rahul Karmakar reports on how Bhramyoman groups, which are a distinct feature of the culture of the State, are on the verge of closure
Many men in Manikpur spend seven-nine months of an Assamese year on the road. A large village in Assam’s Bongaigaon district, about 185 km west of Guwahati, Manikpur has for decades been the ‘setting’ source of several Bhramyoman groups. The Assamese year of 365 days starts mid-April of a Gregorian calendar. Bhramyoman translates into mobile theatre and ‘setting’ entails a range of activities from putting up tents to decorating the stage. A travelling theatre group of an average of 150 persons has 55-60 stage workers engaged in settings.More Related News