THE MASK LORE OF
MANBHUM (25 min.) (2004 ) 'Chho' mask dance is a very popular performance of the 'Manbhum
School of Chho' as practised on the eve of 'Gajan'. The
performance ritually starts from 'Chaitra Sankantri' till 'Rohini
of Jaistha'. The mythical, historical and social plays on many
valorous characters are enacted by the performers with the
vigourus 'Chho' masks. The Chho-mask-making has become a
cottage industry and is appreciated by the folk-art lovers
from all corners of the country and abroad. Paper pulp as its
main ingredient is coloured and decorated by other items are
also used to make it appealing.
Purulia's Salabat (20 min.) (2010)
A Jhumur folk singer. This film produced by Lokosanskriti-O-Adibasi Sanskriti Kendra, Information and Cultural Affairs Department, Government of West Bengal.
BISHAN SHILPA (16 min.) (1996) The Horns of cattle, specially buffalo horns, have given birth
to a new dimension to cottage industry by producing many
useful and decorative items. The prime item is hair-comb of
various designs and sizes. Indian 'Horn-Art' has its demand
abroad. This industry needs to be more equipped to meet its
demand.
LAC (21 min.) (2002) Lac is a natural resin secreted by tiny 'lac-insects' to
protect itself along with itself with its larvae at the time
of its breeding. Lac is cultivated at the twigs of some
particular trees mostly grown in the forest area. Indian lac
dominates in international market for its highest production
and excellent quality. Lac is used in paints and varnishes,
pharmaceuticals, automobiles, electricals, agriculture,
defence and many other important industries. Kolkata is the
main marketing centre of lac.
CHHATA PARAB (17 min.) (2000) The 'Chhata Parab' is celebrated specially by the indigenous
womenfolk on the day of Bhadra Sankranti, by worshipping their
'God of rain'. The festival signifies the vigour of fertility.
In the fair ground of Chakoltore, Chhata hoisted on the Sal
tree pole symbolises the protection of the peasants and their
crops in the territory. The festival has been observed for the
last 500 years.
SHIKAR UTSAB (18 min.) (2002) The 'Desh Shikar" is observed on the Baisakhi full moon day
specially at Ayodhya Hill of Purulia (in West Bengal) by the
indigenous malefolks. After their hunting-activities, 'Dhunger'
dance and 'Uday-jhumur" with 'Sing-Rai' dance drama are
performed with erotic songs and music through which a boy gets
his proper sex education with all its taboos that befit his
own society.
THE BIRHORS (24 min.) (2003) The Birhors are considered as one of the primitive tribal
groups in India, mostly found in the hilly contiguous region
of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa.
'Bir' means 'jungle' and 'Hor' means 'man' in their own
language. They depend on forest produces, thus surviving on
hunting and gathering. No authentic record is found about
population due to their nomadic nature. Rope making with some
specific creepers and barks of trees is their traditional
occupation. Deforestation has now become a threat to the
survival of this ethnocentric community.
THE SHABARS (39 min.) (2003) The Shabars are the hunting and gathering tribal community who
are sometimes known as 'Kharias' or 'Lodhas' in West Bengal,
Orissa & Jharkhand. As their main source of living is forest,
deforestation has compelled many of them to run into daily
labourers. Their traditional culture has also bee threatened
by the imposition of other greater religious traditions. This
primitive, nature-worshipper community survives in utmost
poverty.
THE YOUTH
FESTIVALS OF JHARKHAND (20 min.) (2003) "The man is yet to be born who has not participated in the 'Desh
Shikar (Annual hunting festival) and the woman is not
considered to be bloomed if she has not participated in the 'Chhata
Parab of Chakoltor'."- A proverb of the indigenous communities
of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa. These two festivals have
merged to come under one title to emphasise the vigour of the
tribal youths. The generation gap is wiped out and the boy
feels for the first time the fragrance of youth.
RENUNCIATION - A FOLKWAY (29 min.) (2006) Gajan is a folk festival of Bengal observed though its length
and breadth. Having its origin in the Vedic age, it has got
its deep-rooted tradition through the pages of history.
The festival usually lasts for a month where a group of people
devote themselves to the whole society. The entire season
comprises several religious performances, rituals and cultural
manifestations which mainly express the desire of people to
renunciate. The entire society gets involved to inspire and
stand by the devotees. It faces a treamendous challenge today
with its old fashioned expressions.
Won Juries Award in the 5th Asia Pacific Documentary Film
Festival 2008, Singaporea and in the 7th AAI International Film Festival 2009, Albenia for this film.
Go-Bandana
(The Cattle Worship Festival) (25 min.) (2009) The co-relation of the cattle and the act of farming needs no
explanation. BANDNA is a festival of the vast plains in the
western part of West Bengal which reflects a total environment
of feeling for the cattle. It is that good side of human
sensibility which considers cattle as an integral part of
human civilization and culture.
The documentary envisages to find out the reality as it was
and it is. The question as to how long this will survive has also
been raised.
SHITALA GAJAN (26 min.) (2010)
The co-relation of the cattle and the act of farming needs no
explanation. BANDNA is a festival of the vast plains in the
western part of West Bengal which reflects a total environment
of feeling for the cattle. It is that good side of human
sensibility which considers cattle as an integral part of
human civilization and culture.
The documentary envisages to find out the reality as it was
and it is. The question as to how long this will survive has also
been raised.
GAJAN (1 hour. 55 min.) (2010)
By Gajan we understand the annual festival of the marriage of folk and Vedic god Shiva and the goddess Parbati in the Bengali month of Chaitra (March-April). Apart from the Gajan of Shiva, the Gajan festivals of other gods and goddesses like Dharma, Balaram, Manasa, Bhagabati, Shitala etc. are held at different times, in different places of Bengal.
With the participation of the people from different sects and religious communities, an atmosphere of communal harmony is created.
The main features of the Gajan festival are the folk rituals and the observance of the austerities. The best path to the propitiayion of gods and goddesses is the self-torture. That is the popular belief.
The low-born hard-working common people meet in the Gajan Festival praying for good health, the well-being of society and families, good cultivation of crops and the gaining of children. Far from the glamour and gloss of the city-life, the Gajan festivals of the rural Bengal are carrying the traditional and indigenous culture of the country with much elan and eclat.
SHIB GAJAN (43 min.) (2010)
At the end of the month of Chaitra, the last month of the Bengali year, the economically backward people of rurals Bengal assemble in the Gajan festival of Shiva. The willing devotees accept the sacred threads from the Brahmin priest and get converted from their own families to that of the god. The devotees have to observe taking of vows, abstemiousness, eating of boiled and sunned rice and ghee and Brahmacharya (abstinence). They have to observe ritualistic acts and austerities. The people believe that all these lengthen their longevity, enhance their wealth and make them healthy and fit. In some places the participation of Muslims creates an ambience of communal harmony.
DHARMA GAJAN (30 min.) (2010)
Dharma is worshipped in the rural Bengal as the god for curing diseases, preventing drought, bringing corns and giving children. So he is worshipped under different names like Bharma Roy, Dom Roy etc.
The Apal Gajan of Dharma may be held any time of the year. But the annual Gajan of Dharma is held by placing the pitcher of Akshyay Tritiya of Baisakh and it continues till the full moon day of Baisakh. In some places is held the Lue Gajan. The devotees observe various austerities like piercing with pointy rod, rolling on the bed of thorns, whirling on the charka tree etc.
BALARAM GAJAN (24 min.) (2010)
Balaram is an ancient village under the Rayna Police Station in the district of Burdwan. The idol of Balaram placed in the ancient temple of Shri Shri Balaramdev in this village is the most ancient one in the Western part of Bengal. This twenty feet tall image of god is made of neem wood . Gajan is one of the many religious ceremonies centring on Balaram. This Gajan festival begins with the bath-ceremony of Balaram on the third day of the lunar half of the month of Vaisakha (April-May). On the full moon birthday of Buddha the ceremony of anointing the eyes of the idol is held. The devotees take to the life of an ascetic in this Gajan festival and practice various austerities.
MANASA GAJAN (22 min.) (2010)
The village of Ayodhya is situated on the northern bank of the river Darakeswar under the police station of Bishnupur in the district of Bankura. Every year on the tenth lunar day of bright fortnight i.e. on Dasahara the Gajan of Manasa is held. The popular belief is that at last stage of 18th Century the pitcher of Manasa is found in the river of Darakeswar. The local name of the goddess is Kaluburi. Eight days before the Dasahara beating of drums begins. The ceremony begins with the Ginni palan, 15 days before the Dasahara. The people on the bank of the river Darakeswar believe that the propitiation of the goddess Manasa brings the flood which washes away the poison of snake.
BHAGABATI GAJAN (19 min.) (2010)
The village of Bhagabatipur is situated on the western bank of the river Damodar under the police station of Indus in the district of Bankura. Every year on the day of Ram Nabami the goddess Bhagabati is worshipped. The Gajan begins eight days befor the ram Nabami. Vow-taking, abstinence, taking of boiled sunned rice and ghee etc. are observed by the devotees. On the landing places of the shali and Damodar rivers worship is offered. Alongside the observance of austerities the womenfolk of the village worship the Astamangala in the father-in-laws house of the goddess Bhagabati on the eight day of the Gajan. The ceremony ends with the farewell song of the Gajan. The century old Gajan of Bhagabati is still popular for its concern for the welfare of society and family and a disease-free existence of all.
JHANPAN
(Festival of the Serpent Goddess) (23 min.) (2009) Jhanpan, the folk festival is held all over West Bengal, but
it is predominant in South Bengal which is full of jungles,
rivers and canals - the happy hunting ground of the snakes.And
Jhanpan is the festival where the goddess Manasa is worshipped
to get rid of the snake-bite. The Bengali rainy season, which
spans the months like Ashar, Shravana, Bhadar and Ashwin, is
fixed for this festival. Clay image of Manasa is built up and
worshipped in Jhanpan. The remarkable feature of this festival
is to play with snakes. The main purpose of the puja is to get
rid of the snake-bite and to have happy and prosperous life.
At the time of the sacrifice of the animals to the goddess,
devotees pray with great devotion and frenzy by wallowing on
the on the resultant blood. Women play the stellar role in the
worshipping of Manasa.
NON-TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS (NTFP)-BASED
LIVELIHOOD GENERATION (25 min.) (2005) In the dry deciduous forests of central India, NTFPs are the
major source of livelihood and income generation to local
people. In the study area, due to the extremely dry climate
and the erratic nature of rainfall, only about 20% of people
undertake rainfed agriculture with the result that forest are
under tremendous pressure from cattle grazing and fire,
Unsustainable harvesting and collection of NTFPs has reduced
their availability in the natural forest, which is threatening
the livelihood of the tribal collectors. Community awareness
generation, science and technology application for NTFP
processing and value addition and capacity building were the
key approaches for rural livelihood and income generation. The
film emphasises the activities required for sustainable
Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP) management.
Duration: 25 Minutes
Bhumikanya
(Daughter of the Soil) (30 min.) (2008) The harvesting festival of the South-West region of West
Bengal, also covering some parts of Jharkhand and Bihar, is
popularly known as Tusu. Tusu is a folk belief, never any God
or Goddess, but much more a sweet little girl of the tribal
folk. The festival takes place when new crops are harvested.
The entire festival is a very colourful one. It takes the
shape of the all-around festive mood of the tribal people,
where everyone takes part.
This documentary depicts the history, the colours and the
overwhelming influence of this festival in the vast region of
South-West West Bengal and Parts of Jharkhand and Bihar.
