The origin

• The word Kathak has been derived from the word Katha which means a story.
• It is one of India’s classical dances.
• It was mostly a temple or village entertainment in which the dancers told stories from ancient scriptures.
• The Vaishnavite cult which swept North India in the 15th century. and the resultant bhakti movement contributed to a whole new range of lyrics and musical forms, including Kathak.
• Radha-Krishna tales were portrayed in rasa lila folk plays, which merged folk dance with the basic gestures of kathak story-tellers.
• Kathak was performed in the court of the Mughal emperors and their nobility, where it gained its current characteristics and developed into a type of dance with a specific style.
• It became a notable art form under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh.

About the Dance

• Typically a solo performance, the dancer frequently pauses to read verses before executing them via movement. The dance is performed by both men and women.
• Because Kathak is popular in both Hindu and Muslim populations, the costumes for this dance style are constructed in accordance with the respective cultures’ customs.
• The emphasis is on footwork, with dancers wearing ankle-bells doing straight-legged motions that are skilfully managed.
• Being the only classical dance of India having links with Muslim culture, it represents a unique synthesis of Hindu and Muslim genius in art. Further, Kathak is the only form of classical dance wedded to Hindustani or the North Indian music.

Why in News:

• Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away recently.

 References:

1. http://ccrtindia.gov.in/kathak.php
2. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kathak-pandit-birju-maharaj-dies-7726966/