Haryanavi saang ‘Bann Devi’ keeps audience glued to their seats

SD Sharma

Chandigarh, June 16

The verve and vitality of rustic Haryanavi folklore continued to reverberate around the jam-packed Tagore Theatre during the staging of saang ‘Bann Devi’ on the fourth day of the ongoing 10th edition of the Haryanavi (Saang) Festival here today.

Written by Dhanpat Singh and directed by Kuldip Singh, the saang, ‘ Bann Devi’- a popular pastoral fiction, structured in centuries old social set up was abounding with crisp dialogues, humour and satire, raaginis, bhajans in regional dialect and long spells of dances by four male artistes attired in female costumes. They also made instantaneous shifts to many roles as the narrator, Kuldip Singh, links up the sequences of the storyline revealing the lifestyle of those times, orthodox and innocent people, their virtues and vices, beliefs and morals.

The saang goes on to describe the story of Raja Hemrath of Arth Mardan state who was proceeding with the baraat of his son prince Kankrit to marry princess Rukmini of Kaveri nagar. On the way during a halt, Raja happens to spot young girls along with Bann Devi, daughter of a sadhu. He decides to marry his son Kankrit with Bann Devi there itself and returns to his palace. On learning the unbelievable turn of events, princess deputes her most cunning aide to Raja Hemrath’s place who convinces the Raja that Bann Devi was in fact a vampire (Dayan). Raja sends Bann Devi to hellish existence in a jungle and after some years proceeds to get his son married to Rukmini. On the way, Bann Devi in the guise of an impressive sadhu joins the marriage procession and manages to bring to light the unethical conspiracy hatched by Rukmini. Raja again returns remarrying his son Kankrit with Bann Devi, leaving the conspirator Rukmini to repent.

Another saang ‘Dharam ki Jeet’ will be staged tomorrow.