THE BANARAS GHARANA OF KATHAK DANCE: A STUDY FROM THE PAST TO PRESENT

The term "gharana" pertains to a specific art form that is passed from one generation to the next. Simply put, a gharana refers to a "house" wherein each member follows the artistic traditions of their ancestors. In the field of music, there are several gharanas which emerged, each representing a distinct artistic structure or style of its own. When we look back at the history of music, gharana came up as a result of performers working hard to perfect their skill and set themselves apart from other performers. This unique style was then passed down through generations, creating a lineage of artistic tradition. Thus, the concept of gharanas was born out of this organic evolution and transmission of musical knowledge from one generation to the other. In Kathak, three prominent gharanas stand out: Lucknow Gharana, Banaras Gharana, and Jaipur Gharana. Each gharana boasts distinct artistic characteristics and styles that set them apart from one another. The Banaras Gharana is famous for its strong movement and devotional presentation. Janaki Prasad and Sukhdev Maharaj are considered to be the two founders of Banaras Gharana. Janaki Prasad was born in Rajasthan, but moved to Banaras and spent rest of his life teaching Kathak there, which led to the establishment of the Banaras Gharana. On the other hand, Sukhdev Maharaj was born in Banaras, but he rendered his musical services in the court of the King of Nepal, after which his children stayed in Banaras and strengthened the Banaras Gharana. Presently, all the artists representing the Banaras Gharana are related to this lineage. The present research article focuses on the genealogy of past and present artists of Banaras Gharana of Kathak and their contribution to Kathak dance.