"Das Kathia: The Rhythmic Echo of Odisha’s Folk Heritage"

Sanjay Bhatt 

In the heart of Odisha’s cultural landscape, where myths breathe through melodies and history dances in rhythm, Das Kathia stands as an enduring folk tradition. A symphony of storytelling and music, it binds the past with the present, echoing through villages and temple courtyards.

Das Kathia is performed by two individuals—one gayaka (singer) and one palia (storyteller-performer). Their voices weave together stories of deities, legendary heroes, and timeless folk tales, while their hands beat in unison, wielding two wooden percussion instruments known as Das Kathia. These small yet resonant clappers shape the performance’s heartbeat, adding an earthy, hypnotic rhythm that captivates listeners.

The gayaka sings in a soulful, high-pitched tone, invoking the spiritual essence of Odisha’s oral traditions. Meanwhile, the palia enacts the tale with expressive gestures, dramatic dialogues, and spontaneous wit, making each performance a vivid experience. Their synchronized beats, struck against each other, create a cadence that keeps the audience spellbound, much like the rhythmic waves of the Mahanadi.

Das Kathia is not merely an art form; it is an intimate communion with Odisha’s cultural soul. It has long been a medium for storytelling—spreading devotion, moral lessons, and historical narratives. Whether performed at village gatherings, religious festivities, or temple precincts, it remains a powerful symbol of folk wisdom, keeping alive the voices of ancestors through song, rhythm, and theatrical expression.

As modernity sweeps across traditions, Das Kathia continues to resonate, a living relic of Odisha’s artistic spirit, where two clappers and two voices create a universe of stories, echoing through time.