Understanding the Performance Space of Jatra

The paper explains and analyses the concept of performance space in the context of Jatra. It tries to observe the performance pattern of Jatra in Bengal, which went through a transitional phase considering Bengal’s colonial past. In the process, the paper tries to bridge a theoretical gap found in the performance tradition of Jatra in Bengal. The theorisation of such an indigenous performance tradition brings it into the limelight, where the discursive idea of research in practice finds its due importance in the contemporary scenario of performance. It establishes Jatra as a performative tradition which stands as an independent body of performance with its own tradition and transitional phases. It nuances on the concept of subconscious colonialism which had affected the form and structure of this living performative art form of Bengal.