Drama
Cultures of INDIA
There are many arts of the culture of India, too much in fact, but I will talk about the two types of art that are passed on from generations and that interest me the most. The martial arts and the folk dances.
Kalari a shortened name for Kalarippayattu and that is the martial arts that the Indians practice. They used it when going to war, and it is both powerful and visually engaging as the acrobatics resemble circus acts. Although there are some acrobatics involved, it’s also like yoga as the stretches and meditations are also included. The Indians in the present use Kalari as a show to others, or to keep fit. The word Kalari means battle field, precisely where the martial art was meant to be used. Nowadays the Indians obviously do not fight with Kalari in war, but they use it as a method to relax themselves, substituting it as the Indian Yoga. They bring peace to their minds and souls, and search within for a way to become “one” the Buddhist belief and meditation. Those who have achieved that position of mind became teachers who were greatly respected by all because of his wisdom and ability that he has attained. Many children are made to practice Kalari by their parents and many adults practice it too to relive their everyday stress and to keep themselves healthy. The children are forced to practice this art because as you master it, your mind becomes clearer and your feelings more relaxed, and generally you become a more disciplined person, much desired by society. Now, Kalari is still practiced throughout India, although not as much as before, and in some urban cities where the art is rare, it is performed for an audience who get dazzled by their grace and agility.
Kalari has changed the people of India by calming their souls and the religion by encouraging Buddhism, and the intellect of Buddhism. The martial art is only found in India because of its religion’s influences as well as the Chinese influences that blended in a combination that hasn’t occurred anywhere else, and to make it more unique, the Indians have adapted the art to their way so that it would fit their lifestyle and their needs of the time so the art is enjoyable and convenient for themselves. The art was formed right after war where the cultures intertwined a little and after they acknowledged what was needed in times of war. Also, the Kalari art has created their own medicine which is used in India instead of some universal medicines. Some of the Indian medicines are famous throughout the world, like cough syrups or headache resolving powdered medicine. Kalari therefore, has also brought development in medicine and health to India.
Another form of art that is practiced all throughout the country of India is dancing. There are many types of Indian dances, both folk and tribal. Many of the Indian dances focus on hip movement and their colorful costumes. There are dances which have stories to them, and dances that don’t have any meaning but are performed for the audience. The fabric of the costumes varies, but many are made from premium silk and use henna for dyeing. The dances that tell stories are mostly about nature or the tribal life, or symbols that represent the gods that they believe in. they dance for every and any occasion, the birth of a child, the change of a season, weddings, promotion, basically anything, sometimes even for no occasion at all.
The dancers are often not from the lowest caste but not from the highest either, and the dances are still being performed today. There are still dancers hired for celebrations and meetings, and usually the upper classes are the ones who hire them as they are the ones who can afford them. The dances are also performed in festivals such as the lights festival or any religious ones, and the variety of dances still lives in this day. Most of the dances now have minimized their movements and steps, thus making it very easy. Also, the dances not only are they danced in occasions, but there are many Bollywood dancers who dance for a living in the entertainment world.
