Jatra in West Bengal

It is a very popular folk theatre among Bengali-speaking peoples. The word Jatra means procession and developed in response to the Vaisnav movement brought by the sage Chaitanya into the region in the sixteenth century. Troupes were managed by the chief singer or actor who was often the owner as well. Performances centered on religious aspects, with high melodrama and an abundance of songs. Two characters,in particular, held the audience rapt: Conscience (Bibek) who meandered through the action, foretelling and commenting; and Fate (Niyati), always a female, who fulfilled the same function as the Bibek. Jatra continues to be a melodramatic form characterized by actors who do not need microphones. Songs mark the beginning or the close of scenes. Furniture in any scene is the solitary chair that will become whatever it is required to. The chair can represent a shrine or a bed!