Dhola

Dhola, oral epic that is sung in various Hindi dialects in honour of the goddess Shakti and is performed in the western portion of Uttar Pradesh, as well as in parts of Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh. Two major themes run through Dhola: the use of Shakta subjects and the incorporation and validation of a much wider range of caste and gender images than is common in the dominant Sanskrit epics. Telling the story of...