{"id":15299,"date":"2025-08-09T15:58:45","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T14:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/icertpublication.com\/?page_id=15299"},"modified":"2026-04-03T10:34:48","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T05:04:48","slug":"theatre-and-ritualistic-storytelling-performing-faith-in-modern-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/2025\/08\/09\/theatre-and-ritualistic-storytelling-performing-faith-in-modern-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Vol-04, Issue-03(Jul-Sep 2025)<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An International scholarly\/ academic journal, peer-reviewed\/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2959-1376<\/h5>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World\n<\/h4>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Garg, Renu<\/span><\/p>

Research Scholar, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, (RJ)<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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DOI: <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/SARI7855<\/span><\/a><\/p>

Subject: Performing Arts \/ Cultural Studies \/ Theology<\/span><\/p>

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Received: June 07, 2025<\/span><\/p>

Accepted: June 22, 2025<\/span><\/p>

Published: July 01, 2025<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Thematic Classification: Ritualistic Storytelling, Modern Theatre, Faith Performance, Cultural Heritage, Oral Traditions, Contemporary Performance Art.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Abstract<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the age of spiritual pluralism and digital change, theatre has become a dynamic platform for ritual storytelling that performs, re-envisions, and reaffirms religion. This article explores how new theatre makers in India and the Indian diaspora stage ritual dramaturgy to articulate sacred belief systems and negotiate socio-political anxieties and economies of creation. Taking a qualitative, interpretivist stance, the research is informed by case studies of three theater collectives through digital ethnography, interviews, and portfolio analysis. The findings highlight that ritual in performance now serves not merely as spiritual expression but also as aesthetic resistance and entrepreneurial innovation. The article presents the idea of entrepreneurial ritualism and suggests a Sacred\u2013Performative Spectrum to situate hybrid sacred performances in the post-secular era. Through the synthesis of performance theory, affect studies, and cultural entrepreneurship, this research contributes to the reconceptualization of the intersections of religion, art, and identity in the 21st century.<\/span><\/p>

Keywords: <\/span>Ritual Theatre, Performing Faith, Cultural Entrepreneurship, Post-Secular Aesthetics, Digital Ethnography<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Impact Statement<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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This work provides a new and sensitive understanding of the way that contemporary theatre appropriates ritualistic storytelling to enact faith in ways that are spiritually resonant, socially conscious, and culturally entrepreneurial. Through analyses of various Indian and diasporic theatre groups, the work determines how ritual, once reserved for sacred contexts, is presently being translated into immersive, multisensory performances that address hybrid identities and post-pandemic fears. Such performances not only maintain religious symbolism but resist traditional binaries between the sacred and the secular, tradition and innovation, and devotion and commerce.<\/span><\/p>

The development of two central concepts entrepreneurial ritualism and the Sacred Performative Spectrum is new to analysing the changing role of faith-based theatre in a media-saturated world. This book places ritual as a source of creative capital in the cultural economy, where belief is not commodified but stretched into new forms of participatory and aesthetic experience.<\/span><\/p>

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Methodologically, the research advances performance ethnography through the combination of digital observation, portfolio analysis, and thematic coding to trace the way audiences access ritual theatre in virtual and physical realms. Strategically, it demands arts policy, curriculum change, and digital platform responsibility that is more favourable to plural, sacred performance. This study is a timely, effective contribution to performance studies, religious expression, and creative industries scholarship.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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About the Author<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Prof. Renu Garg is a seasoned theatre practitioner, educator, and scholar, currently pursuing her PhD in Journalism and Mass Communication at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. She holds an M.A. in Theatre and Television and is an alumna of the prestigious National School of Drama, where she received a full national scholarship. With over two decades of experience in theatre, media, and education, she has worked extensively across performance, pedagogy, and academic leadership.<\/span><\/p>

Her creative and scholarly work explores the intersections of ritual, storytelling, identity, and performance in contemporary contexts. She has acted on stage and television, trained in multiple dance and martial arts forms, and is certified in Film Appreciation from Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata. Prof. Garg currently serves as the Dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Indira University, Pune, where she drives interdisciplinary education rooted in the liberal and performing arts.<\/span><\/p>

Her academic research focuses on post-secular theatre, cultural entrepreneurship, and the evolving aesthetics of ritual storytelling. She has published on theatre pedagogy, technology in performance, and value-based education in the arts. Passionate about bridging traditional narratives with contemporary practice, her work contributes meaningfully to the future of performance studies and arts education.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Cite this Article<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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APA 7th Style<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Garg, R. (2025). Theatre and ritualistic storytelling: Performing faith in modern world. <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, <\/span>4<\/span>(03), 308\u2013319. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/SARI7855<\/span><\/a><\/p>

Chicago 17th Style<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Garg, Renu. “Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World.” <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span> 4, no. 3 (2025): 308\u2013319. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/SARI7855<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>

MLA 9th Style<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Garg, Renu. “Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World.” <\/span>Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal<\/span>, vol. 4, no. 3, 2025, pp. 308-319, <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/SARI7855<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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Statements and Declarations<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Peer-Review Method:<\/span> This article underwent a double-blind peer-review process by two independent external experts in Cultural Studies and Theatre Arts to ensure the academic rigor of the ethnographic and historical analysis presented.<\/span><\/p>

Competing Interests:<\/span> The author (Renu Garg) declares that there are no financial, personal, or professional conflicts of interest that could have inappropriately influenced the research findings or the cultural interpretations discussed in this study.<\/span><\/p>

Funding:<\/span> This research was conducted as part of the author\u2019s doctoral activities at Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur. No specific external grants or commercial funding were received for this work.<\/span><\/p>

Data Availability:<\/span> The study is based on a qualitative analysis of ritualistic performances and modern theatrical adaptations. All primary observations and secondary literature cited are available through public academic archives and institutional libraries.<\/span><\/p>

Licence:<\/span> Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World<\/span> \u00a9 2025 by Renu Garg is licensed under <\/span>CC BY-NC-ND 4.0<\/span>. This work is published by the International Council for Education Research and Training (ICERT).<\/span><\/p>

Ethics Approval:<\/span> As this study involves the analysis of cultural performances and storytelling traditions and does not involve clinical trials or sensitive personal data from human subjects, it was deemed exempt from formal ethical review by the Institutional Research Committee of Vivekananda Global University.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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References \n<\/h6>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Shodh Sari-An International Multidisciplinary Journal Vol-04, Issue-03(Jul-Sep 2025) An International scholarly\/ academic journal, peer-reviewed\/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2959-1376 Theatre and Ritualistic Storytelling: Performing Faith in Modern World Garg, Renu Research Scholar, Department of Journalism & Mass Communication, Vivekananda Global University, Jaipur, (RJ) DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.59231\/SARI7855 Subject: Performing Arts \/ Cultural Studies \/ Theology Page No: […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"postBodyCss":"","postBodyMargin":[],"postBodyPadding":[],"postBodyBackground":{"backgroundType":"classic","gradient":""},"site-sidebar-layout":"no-sidebar","site-content-layout":"page-builder","ast-site-content-layout":"full-width-container","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"disabled","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-shodh-sari-vol-04-issue-03-jul-sep-2025"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15299"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31917,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15299\/revisions\/31917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/icert.org.in\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}