While there is no denying that digital campaigns with the help of artificial intelligence have become central to elections, certain old-age traditions still continue to make their importance felt.
In three days, the festival of democracy is about to kickstart in India. And from nearly a month ago, political parties and candidates, who are into the fray of contesting elections, have revived the tradition of folk art, religious kirtan or yatras to get the attention of the electorates.
In election rallies, roadshows and other activities, folk artists are employed by political parties or candidates to garner votes. Elections in our country, thus, do not only remind one about the folk arts, whose lustre has depleted with time, but also provide employment opportunities to folk artists.
Not just the political parties but the Election Commission too take help of the art form to generate awareness among the masses to encourage them to exercise their adult franchise. With the help of music and dance, certain messages are disseminated which tend to grab the attention of the onlookers.
Although technology’s spell can be felt on every aspect of our living, personal touch and connection still continue to have an edge over it.
People dance to the beats of percussion instruments such as parai, sikkattam, dholi.
Dance performances including folk arts of poikal kuthirai and karagattam filled the space of campaigning in elections this year.
When the prime minister Narendra Modi visited Chennai to campaign for the polls, Mayilattam performers grabbed the attention. It is a religious dance form.
Reports claim as the season of elections sets in and campaigns begin in full-swing, there’s an uptick in demand for folk art performers such as Dollu Kunita dancers, Kamsale players, folk musical teams, Yakshagana artists, and others in Karnataka.
It has been found that in rural and semi-rural areas, the appeal of folk art can be felt the most. Roadshows and rallies will appear dull if the folk artists do not add colour to them.
In Bengaluru, for instance, a percussion instrument, namely, tamate was brought to use during election campaigning. In other districts of Karnataka, too, tamate is sought after during elections.
While filing the nomination papers, folk artists performed for Shobha Karandlaje, who is contesting Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru North.
Even the folk artists aspire to get hired by political parties as the payment they get for performing at government programmes is way better than what comes as remuneration for performing at village car festivals. The villagers, reportedly, compensate them with cereals such as ragi, rice and wheat.
During elections, folk artists are occupied till the last day of campaigning. In elections, the daily charge for a troupe ranges between Rs 25,000 to 30,000. Whereas, in the off season, sometimes they even struggle to meet both ends.
The manner in which folk art thrives during the election season suggests that no matter how much digital campaigns become the new norm, traditional art forms will have their way.
Notably, social media campaigns or new methods of campaigning can have its way in the urban areas. However, in the rural regions, one cannot do away with traditional art forms.
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