Bali-Sugriva-Hanuman Nautanki Successfully Revives Traditional Folk Theatre in Mathura
Mathura: In a significant effort to preserve India’s fading folk theatre traditions, the Shri Ramayan Pracharini Samiti organized a grand presentation of the traditional Bali-Sugriva-Hanuman Katha Nautanki at Chitrakoot. The cultural event was sponsored by the Lala Bhagwandas Roopvati Garg Charitable Trust and featured a captivating performance written and directed by renowned theatre personality Mahesh Vyas.
The presentation attracted a large audience, who thoroughly enjoyed the vibrant performances and dramatic storytelling. Artists showcased their exceptional talent through powerful acting, traditional singing, and expressive dialogue delivery, earning continuous applause from spectators throughout the evening.
The program commenced with the ceremonial worship of Lord Ganesha. The inauguration was jointly performed by former Minister Ravikant Garg, BSA Engineering and Technology College Chairman Umashankar Agrawal, Jugal Kishore Agrawal, Convener Mulchand Garg, CO City Ashna Chaudhary, and Lachhman Prasad Yadav. The dignitaries offered prayers and extended their best wishes for the success of the cultural initiative.
One of the highlights of the evening was the recognition of veteran artists and distinguished contributors associated with the Nautanki tradition. Organizers honored several stalwarts of folk theatre, including Lokendra Nath Kaushik, Suresh Chandra, Hari Om, Poorn Chand, Purushottam, Ghanshyam, Harishankar Sharma, Mahesh Vyas, and CO City Ashna Chaudhary. They were felicitated with ceremonial shawls, patukas, and mementos in recognition of their contributions toward preserving and promoting traditional performing arts.
Addressing the gathering as the chief presiding dignitary, former Minister Ravikant Garg emphasized the importance of reviving traditional folk art forms. He noted that his respected father was also closely associated with the Nautanki tradition and had contributed significantly to its development. He stated that preserving such cultural heritage is essential for future generations and that their trust remains committed to supporting initiatives that keep these artistic traditions alive.
The Bali-Sugriva-Hanuman narrative, drawn from the Ramayana tradition, was presented in a classical Nautanki style, blending music, dialogue, humor, devotion, and dramatic performance. The production successfully transported the audience into the world of ancient Indian storytelling while highlighting the richness of North India’s folk theatre heritage.
The event witnessed the presence of several prominent social and cultural personalities, including Ajaykant Garg, Mahesh Chandra Kasere, Prabhat Sarraf, Vanbihari Agrawal, Vishanchandra Goyal, Brijgopal Agrawal, Brijesh Neelkanth, Avadhesh Agrawal, Madhav Sharan Agrawal, Sumit Agrawal, Dr. D.D. Garg, Rajendra Prasad Agrawal, Shashibhanu Garg, and Kanhaiyalal Bansal “Sweety Supari”.
The program concluded with a formal vote of thanks delivered by Convener Mulchand Garg, who expressed gratitude to all artists, guests, organizers, and audience members for supporting the initiative. He reiterated the commitment of the organizers to continue promoting India’s rich cultural and theatrical traditions through similar events in the future.
The proceedings of the event were efficiently conducted by Mahesh Vyas, whose efforts ensured the smooth execution of the program. The successful staging of the Bali-Sugriva-Hanuman Nautanki once again demonstrated that traditional folk theatre continues to hold a special place in the hearts of audiences when presented with dedication and authenticity.
— Mulchand Garg
General Secretary
Ramleela Sabha, Mathura