Volume-II, Special Issue, February 2026
Novel Insights A Peer-Reviewed Quarterly Multidisciplinary Research Journal |
Volume-II, Special Issue, February 2026 |
A New Glance in Folk Performances: Diversities in the Folk Drama Khon Palagan of Dinajpur District Sudeb Sarkar, Research Scholar, Dept. of English, Jadavpur University, Qwest Bengal, India Email: sudeb.arc@gmail.com |
Received: 01.01.2026 | Accepted: 20.02.2026 | Published Online: 28.02.2026 |
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Abstract | ||
Culture constitutes the identity of people across the world. It reflects the lived experiences of folk communities; their activities, rituals, beliefs, language, and literary expressions. Folk drama is one of the most significant genres of folk culture, representing the dramatic performances of indigenous communities living in specific regions of a nation. J. A. Cuddon, in The Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory, observes that “…folk drama is a common and living phenomenon in many parts of the world….”. Generally, folk drama embodies local history, social suffering, individual and collective struggles, economic and political conditions, and religious beliefs. Khon Palagan is a popular folk drama tradition of the Dinajpur region. It is also a major cultural heritage of the Rajbanshi community, narrating a cultural history of nearly five hundred years. This performance tradition is rich in emotion, love, faith, and belief, and it vividly portrays the social structure and cultural heritage of the Rajbanshi people. However, in contemporary times, significant diversity can be observed in its performance practices, which has resulted in the emergence of a new canon shaped by modern sensibilities. Today’s performances appear more professional than passionate, as artists increasingly modify traditional methods under the influence of digital technologies. Therefore, this paper seeks to explore the traditional patterns of Khon Palagan; its performance style, subject matter, language, and musical instruments and to examine the extent to which these patterns have been affected by modern canons. The paper also investigates the interaction between folk culture and popular culture. Keywords: Rajbanshi, Folk Drama, Khon Palagan, Modernity, Popular Culture | ||