Panchali (Bengal)

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Panchali is a form of narrative folk songs of the Bengal region (comprising of the country Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal).

[edit] Origin of name

The word Panchali probably originates from panchal or panchalika, meaning puppet. According to another school of that, Panchali originates from the word panch, which means five in Bengali language, referring to the five elements of this genre: song, music, extempore versifying, poetic contests, and dance.

[edit] Description

Panchali topics include mythology, legends and sometimes contemporary topics. Common topics are based on Mahabharata, Ramayana and Mangalkavya. Usually one principal singer would enact the main story with recitation, rhymes and songs. In course of the evolution of the panchali, more singers joined the principal singer to play such instruments as mrdanga (tabor), dhol (drum) and kanshi (bell-metal gong).

The panchali later gave birth to the popular Jatra performances.