Folk wonders of Ganjam

The video is a presentation about the folk culture of the Ganjam district of Odisha. The documentary is filmed in the town of Buguda in Ganjam and the focus is on three main art forms, the Sankha Badan, Prahlad Natak and Animal Mask Dance. In people’s lives at Ganjam, God plays an important role. The ultimate aim is to please God through different kinds of arts and crafts. All the three art forms call for intense creative expressions and the artists have to be physically very fit themselves. The Sankha Badanor, the blowing of the conch shell is a special folk form usually performed on special occasions and festivals. It often involves the simultaneous blowing of two conch shells. The training for this art form starts at an early age, while the training for the Animal Mask Dance is not rigorous and it can be picked up in a year's time. The Animal Mask Dance is a play surrounding the idea of wildlife and conservation of nature. The Prahlad Natak is a drama which is centered around the story of God punishing the evil. It is a combination of singing, dancing and acting in ornate costumes and the make-up.