https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Alkap 2026-07-30T16:42:42Z Revision history for this page on the wiki MediaWiki 1.45.4 https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Alkap&diff=85451&oldid=prev 2021-05-26T03:06:07Z

<p></p> <p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Use Indian English|date = August 2019}}<br /> {{Culture of Bengal}}<br /> &#039;&#039;&#039;Alkap&#039;&#039;&#039; ({{lang-bn|আলকাপ}}) is a [[Bengali language|Bengali]] folk dance popular in the districts of [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]], [[Malda district|Malda]] and [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]] in [[West Bengal]] and [[Chapai Nawabganj District|Chapai Nawabganj]], [[Rajshahi Division|Randajshahi]] in [[Bangladesh]].&lt;ref name=Banglapedia&gt;{{cite web | url = http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Alkap_Gan| title = Alkap Gan | access-date = 2009-03-22 | last = Ahmed| first = Wakil | work =Banglapedia | publisher = Asiatic Society of Bangladesh }}&lt;/ref&gt; It has also spread to the adjoining areas of [[Jharkhand]] and [[Bihar]] such as [[Dumka district|Dumka]] and [[Purnia district|Purnia]].&lt;ref name=Telegraph&gt;{{cite web | url =http://www.telegraphindia.com/1030718/asp/calcutta/story_2173034.asp<br /> | title = Sudkhor | access-date = 2009-03-22 | publisher = The Telegraph, 18 July 2003 }}&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Etymology==<br /> Kaap means &#039;kavya&#039; (verse) and Aal means &#039;part of the verse&#039;.&lt;ref name=Telegraph/&gt; Another meaning of the word Aal is &#039;sharp&#039;. The word Kaap is also one of the many meanings of &#039;sam&#039; - a distorted form of gesture in the arena, or an image of a humorous comedian or social ugly subject.&lt;ref name=Ghosh&gt;Ghosh, Binoy, &#039;&#039;Paschim Banger Sanskriti&#039;&#039;, (in Bengali), Volume III, First Edition, Prakash Bhawan, Page 69.&lt;/ref&gt;<br /> <br /> ==Form==<br /> Alkap is an amalgamation of music, dance and theatrical presentation. An alkap group of ten to twelve performers is led by a &#039;&#039;sarkar&#039;&#039; (master) or &#039;&#039;guru&#039;&#039; (leader) and includes two or three young men called &#039;&#039;chhokras&#039;&#039;{{typo help inline|reason=similar to chokras|date=May 2020}}, one or two &#039;&#039;gayens&#039;&#039; or singers, &#039;&#039;dohar&#039;&#039;, choristers, and musicians. Alkap is presented in five parts: &#039;&#039;Asar Vandana&#039;&#039;, &#039;&#039;Chhora&#039;&#039;, &#039;&#039;Kaap&#039;&#039;, &#039;&#039;Baithaki Gaan&#039;&#039; and &#039;&#039;Khemta Pala&#039;&#039;. The programme is a reflection of rural society and puts the focus on the prevailing socio-economic condition of the rural masses.&lt;ref name=Banglapedia/&gt;&lt;ref name=Telegraph/&gt;<br /> <br /> ==In popular culture==<br /> [[Syed Mustafa Siraj]]&#039;s novel &#039;&#039;Mayamrdanga&#039;&#039; is about an Alkap team.<br /> <br /> ==References==<br /> {{reflist}}<br /> <br /> {{Dance in India}}<br /> {{Culture of West Bengal}}<br /> {{Bengali Hindu people}}<br /> <br /> [[Category:Bengali culture]]<br /> [[Category:Culture of West Bengal]]<br /> [[Category:Bangladeshi culture]]</div>

>Wynn Liaw