Kolkata: Bathed in moonlight, the resplendent marble edifice stood like a mute witness to the passage of time, watching the scene unfolding around it, just as it has watched for well over a century.

But now, instead of standing like a wall between two cultures, it gladly watched how two countries were exploring their intercultural link through the rendition of the story of Indian Ramayana adapted through Thailand’s Ramakien.

Hosted by and held at the Victoria Memorial Hall (VMH), Kolkata, in collaboration with The Royal Thai Consulate-General in Kolkata and the Royal Thai Embassy in New Delhi, the evening was devoted to a performance of the Khon – a classical Thai masked dance drama – inscribed in 2018 on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Part of the ‘Namaste Thailand Festival 2025’, the operatic performance was based on ‘Hanuman, the mighty warrior’.

Like colourful butterflies, the dancers flitted in and out, in colourful attires and masks; their movements soft and delicate to vigorous, according to the situation.

Hanuman, the monkey god, of course could not stop himself from occasionally displaying some antics, to the delight of the spectators.

The dancers were accompanied by a team of musicians playing the traditional instruments and occasionally lending voice to the play.

The chief guest for the evening was Governor of West Bengal, CV Ananda Bose, who was accompanied by wife as the guest of honour.

Also present were Siriporn Tantipanyathep, Consul-General of Thailand in Kolkata; West Bengal minister Indranil Sen, who looks after tourism and other departments; Nandini Chakraborty, IAS, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Secretary, and Samarendra Kumar, Curator, VMH, among others.

Said Consul-General SiripornTantipanyathep, “The Khon Performance is not just a celebration of Thailand's cultural beauty but also an opportunity to deepen the bonds of friendship and mutual appreciation between Thailand and India. We hope this extraordinary showcase will resonate with audiences, inspiring admiration for the enduring charm of Khon and its universal values."

To quote the UNESCO citation, the Khon Masked Dance Drama of Thailand, ‘is a performing art that combines musical, vocal, literary, dance, ritual and handicraft elements. Khon performances ‘involve graceful dance movements, instrumental and vocal renditions and glittering costumes’.

The dance drama, which essentially talks of Rama and his valour, according to the UNESCO citation, ‘has a strong didactic function, reinforcing respect for those of a higher age and status, mutual dependence between leaders and followers, the honour of rulers and the triumph of good over evil.

Once upon a time Khon was performed only at the royal courts, it is now performed in public.

The performance at the Victoria Memorial was presented by master artists from Thailand's Department of Fine Arts, Ministry of Culture. 

According to Samarendra Kumar, Victoria Memorial Hall, which is one of the most visited museums in the country, is also designated as a cultural space – Sanskriti Para by the Union Ministry of Culture.

Said Kumar, VMH aims to reclaim public space, democratize the arts, and foster cultural exchange with international partners to showcase intangible cultural heritage.

The Namaste Thailand Festival 2025 is a representation of the way art transcends borders, uniting people across time and space.

(Images by Avishek Mitra/IBNS)