NEW DELHI: The public broadcaster Doordarshan’s channel DD Bharati has slated several programmes to establish its identity as the television channel reflecting the art and culture of the country.
Jewels of Hindustani Classical Music, a programme specially curated from the archives of stalwarts of Hindustani vocal and instrumental musicians who are alive and are virtually legends is commencing this evening.
The first telecast at 9.00 pm with repeat telecast at 5.00 am and 1.00 pm features Begum Parveen Sultana of the Patiala Gharana followed by Vidushi Kishori Amonkar of the Jaipur- Atrauli Gharana. The legendary Pt Jasraj will be featured tomorrow at the same time.
The programme, especially curated by Kumud Diwan and Yatindra Mishra, delves into their gharana, their musical genius, and their musical journey etc.
Coinciding with Dussehra and Diwali next month, DD Bharati will commence telecast of Ramayana from 27 September at 10.30 pm with repeat the next day at 6.30 am and 2.30 pm. It will be a series of presentation of ballets and documentary on the Ramkatha traditions prevalent in India.
The Ramayana or Ramkatha tradition is pervasive not only in India but throughout South East Asia. Stories revolving around Ram, Sita and Lakshman penetrate through rural and urban, mundane and religious, sacred and secular domains. They defy categorization of art as folk or classical, rural or urban, textual or oral. Literary, oral, kinetic and pictorial aspects intermingle to generate multiple renditions of the text in different locales and contexts; each rendition with unique local flavour and linguistic distinction. The performative aspect of the text makes it fluid, accessible and adaptable. It accounts for its preservation, survival, transmission and mobility, cutting across boundaries of time and space. Every region has its own particular form and style of singing and reciting the story.
Earlier this week with the start of Mahalaya, DD Bharati in association with the Girnar Kendra of Doordarshan presented ‘Maa Ni Chundari Lehrai’ from its rich collection of archives. A series of Garba presentation especially done and performed during the Navratra Festival was telecast with repeats the next day.
DD Bharati also presented Devi Darshan from 24 September at 10.30 pm through a series of dance ballets and documentary celebrating the festivities of Durgaostav. Durga Puja festival is a 10-day long festival that starts off on Mahalaya (the day of the new moon) – the first day when Goddess Durga is believed to come into the world to destroy the evil. The festival ends up in Dashumi- the last day when the Goddess Durga is believed to go back to her heavenly home, leaving behind the trails of happiness, goodness and purity. This is the day of the Lord’s victory over evil and is celebrated as Vijay Dashami or Dussehra. The salient ritual of Durga Puja spans a five days period Maha Sashti, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Nabami and Vijaya Dashami.
