Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 17: A Kashmiri comedy play Gadd Bateh was staged in Abhinav theatre by Vomedh a theatre group of displaced youth on Sunday. The play written by Rakesh Roshan Bhat and directed by Rohit Bhat has earlier been staged multiple times in Jammu. It has also been staged in Mumbai and Delhi. The play created a history of sorts when it was staged in Tagore Hall Srinagar last year.
The play revolves around an uprooted Kashmiri Pandit, Kanya Lal who celebrates all the KP festivals to keep the culture alive in exile but has not been able to celebrate Gadd Bateh because he didn’t have a house of his own in Jammu since migration. Now when he finally builds a house he wants to celebrate it quietly without much ado. But destiny has something else in store. The appearance of the Greh Devta and his dialogue with Kanya Lal and other ensuing situations laced in humor, transport the audience back to the memory lane and make them relive those experiences which emphasize the significance of festivals like Gadd Bateh and other festivals for Kashmiri Pandit community.
In the words of Kiran Wattalji who was the chief guest on the occasion Play “Gadd Bateh” tells the story of our lost glory in a hilarious way. How in spite of hazards of migration to various parts of the country and foreign territories too, KPs have to upkeep the traditions for the coming generations. He appreciated the efforts of writer and director duo Rakesh Roshan Bhat , Rohit Bhat and the performers on stage depicting and conveying the message to community at large to preserve the age old customs and traditions of our ancestors. He praised Vomedh for involving children, youngsters and all ranks of artists for the cause of community by the medium of theatrical representation. Other dignitaries who were present on the occasion included Ramesh Hangloo, Ajay Pandita, Rakesh Koul, M.K .Yogi , T k Bhat , Aryan Ramesh, Prof Trisal & Ashok Kangan
Today’s performance saw some very good acting by the entire cast especially the Father Kanya Lal played by Vinay Pandit and his son Bubb Ji played by Sunny Mujoo. Daizy Bazaz as Daughter in law Veena was also good. They were able supported by Puneet Bali as Garr Devta, Rahul Pandit as Sanj Bochh, Bharti Koul as Shama Ji and J K Bali as Ramesh.
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