- Panchali (Bengal)
Panchali is a form of narrative folk songs of the
Bengal region (comprising of the countryBangladesh and theIndia n state ofWest Bengal ).Origin of name
The word "Panchali" probably originates from "panchal" or "panchalika", meaning "puppet". According to another school of that, "Panchali" originates from the word "panch", which means five in
Bengali language , referring to the five elements of this genre: song, music, extempore versifying, poetic contests, and dance.Description
"Panchali" topics include mythology, legends and sometimes contemporary topics. Common topics are based on
Mahabharata ,Ramayana andMangalkavya . Usually one principal singer would enact the main story with recitation, rhymes and songs. In course of the evolution of the panchali, more singers joined the principal singer to play such instruments as "mrdanga " (tabor), "dhol " (drum) and "kanshi " (bell-metal gong).The panchali later gave birth to the popular Jatra performances.
External links
* [http://banglapedia.search.com.bd/HT/P_0059.htm Panchali] in
Banglapedia .
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