Alkap

Alkap ( Bengali : ????? ) is a Bengali folk dance popular in the districts of Murshidabad , Malda and Birbhum in West Bengal and Chapai Nawabganj , Rajshahi in Bangladesh . ^[1] It has also spread to the adjoining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar such as Dumka and Purnia . ^[2]

Etymology [ edit ]

Kaap means 'kavya' (verse) and Aal means 'part of the verse'. ^[2] Another meaning of the word Aal is 'sharp'. The word Kaap is also one of the many meanings of 'sam' - a distorted form of gesture in the arena, or an image of a humorous comedian or social ugly subject. ^[3]

Form [ edit ]

Alkap is an amalgamation of music, dance and theatrical presentation. An alkap group of ten to twelve performers is led by a sarkar (master) or guru (leader) and includes two or three young men called chhokras ^{[
check spelling
]}, one or two gayens or singers, dohar , choristers, and musicians. Alkap is presented in five parts: Asar Vandana , Chhora , Kaap , Baithaki Gaan and Khemta Pala . The programme is a reflection of rural society and puts the focus on the prevailing socio-economic condition of the rural masses. ^[1]^[2]

In popular culture [ edit ]

Syed Mustafa Siraj 's novel Mayamrdanga is about an Alkap team.

References [ edit ]

^ ^a ^b Ahmed, Wakil. "Alkap Gan" . Banglapedia . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh . Retrieved 2009-03-22 .
^ ^a ^b ^c "Sudkhor" . The Telegraph, 18 July 2003. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013 . Retrieved 2009-03-22 .
^ Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti , (in Bengali), Volume III, First Edition, Prakash Bhawan, Page 69.

[Banglapedia-1] Ahmed, Wakil. "Alkap Gan" . Banglapedia . Asiatic Society of Bangladesh . Retrieved 2009-03-22 .

[Telegraph-2] "Sudkhor" . The Telegraph, 18 July 2003. Archived from the original on February 3, 2013 . Retrieved 2009-03-22 .

[Ghosh-3] Ghosh, Binoy, Paschim Banger Sanskriti , (in Bengali), Volume III, First Edition, Prakash Bhawan, Page 69.

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