| Patua Sangeet পটুয়া সঙ্গীত | |
| Native Name: | Poter Gan পটের গান |
| Etymology: | songs made my bengal patua |
| Stylistic Origins: | Blueblood of Bengal |
| Cultural Origins: | ancient time to present, Bengal region |
| Instruments: | free voice and folk instrument |
| Regional Scenes: | India (West Bengal) |
| Local Scenes: | Birbhum, Medinipur |
Patua Sangeet or Poter Gan is a cultural tradition of Bengal Patachitra. It is performed by a Patua.[1] It is famous in the village part of West Bengal like Birbhum, Jhargram, Bardhaman and Murshidabad as a folk song of West Bengal.[2]
There are three types of Patua Sangeet according to the difference of Patachitra and there mythological stories. This lyrical drama is written about the Krishnilila, Gouranglila, Ramlila, Shib-Parbotiilila etc. is called Lila kahini. Panch Kalyani type music is not based on any particular story or adaptation. There are many sense of various gods and goddesses. So it's called Pancha Kalyani, the mixer of various stories. Gopalan or Cattlefarming story is another type of Patua Sangeet.[3]
Patua sangeet was prevalent in the entire the hole Bengal region, but now it is heard in Birbhum, West Midnapore, Nayagram of Pingla block in Jhargram, Bardhaman and Murshidabad district in West Bengal.[4] [5]
Patua sangeet is not merely an emulation of Patachitra. It describes the inner meaning and thought of the Patachitra. Thus Patachitra and Patua sangeet are mutually dependent.
Although the culture of Patua Sangeet is fading, some songs are still heard in some places of West Bengal. There are some ideas of pat singing from the different writers who compiled the songs.[6]