Kirtanya Natak

Kirtanya Natak was one of the indigenous performing arts of India. The word kirtanya is derived from the word kirtan. This form of art is prevailed in the North Bihar from the 14^th to the 20^th century. It is a dramatic performance of the acts of Lord Krishna. It was enacted on certain special occasions. The play is introduced by a Suthradhara. By his entry the benedictory song (Nandi Geeth) would stop. As far as language is concerned, the use of Maithili, Sanskrit and Prakrit can be detected. The male characters used Sanskrit while the female and lower characters used Prakrit. The songs were generally in Maithili.

The troops are generally called Jamati that contained between three to eleven members. They perform the roles of nayak or hero, nayika or heroine, sakhi or female confidant, clown, orchestra etc. the themes were mostly taken from the puranas and other legends.