3, October 2026

Bikhoti: Where Masks Come Alive through the Lens of Brechtian Theory and Practice

VOLUME-12; ISSUE-10; OCT-2026

Author(s): 1. Deepshikha Dhiman, 2. Prof. Hemant Kumar Shukla, 3. Prof. Pramod Kumar Kukreti

Authors Affiliations:

  1. Research Assistant, Pt. L.M.S. University Campus, Rishikesh, India;
  2. Prof. of English, Pt. L.M.S. University Campus, Rishikesh, India;
  3. Prof. & Head, Department of English, Pt. L.M.S. University Campus, Rishikesh, India

DOIs:10.2015/IJIRMF/202610001     |     Paper ID: IJIRMF202610001


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Abstract: Bikhoti is a festival celebrated in the Lata village, which is situated on the bank of the Dhauliganga River in the Painkhanda valley. The term ‘Bikhoti’ comes from the Hindu month ‘Veshaka’, which starts in mid-April and ends in mid-May. Bikhoti plays a crucial role in our religious rituals, making it a deeply meaningful event in the community. It is a theatrical mask dance, performed by the villagers to celebrate Nanda Devi, who comes to her Maika (mother’s home) from her Sasural (husband’s home), which is in the Himalayas. This paper highlights this festival with Brechtian theories and practices, principles and techniques. It presents the mask theatre of Uttarakhand in the light of Epic theatre by focusing on characters like Mor, Morini, Laatu, Laati, etc., making it the most colourful, dynamic and sacred folklore in the Himalayas.

Key Words: Bikhoti, Mask theatre, Uttarakhand, Culture, Epic theatre, V-effect.

Deepshikha Dhiman,  Prof. Hemant Kumar Shukla, Prof. Pramod Kumar Kukreti (2026); Bikhoti, Where Masks Come Alive: In the Light of Brechtian Theories and Practices, International Journal for Innovative Research in Multidisciplinary Field, ISSN(O): 2455-0620, Vol-12, Issue-10, Available on –   https://www.ijirmf.com/

 

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