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Yakshagana, which comes from two words: ‘yaksha’ meaning celestial and ‘gana’ meaning music, is a traditional folk theatre-dance form that is immensely popular in the districts of coastal Karnatakas. According to Karnataka Tourism, “A trip to the coastal belt would be incomplete without watching the Yakshagana – an elaborate dance-drama performance unique to Karnataka. It is a rare combination of dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues and colourful costumes.”
Usually performed by men wearing elaborate outfits, the stories depicted usually come from Mahabharat and Ramayan. These performances are aimed at entertaining people living in remote villages of coastal Karnataka, with Yakshagana troupes traveling from village to village, spreading their theatrical magic wherever they go.
In essence, the traditional art form presents a unique blend of dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues, and colorful costumes. The performance is an elaborate dance-drama that is accompanied by loud singing, striking costumes, and music (with the most commonly used instruments being chande (drums), taala (mini metal clappers), flute, harmonium, maddale.
Performers usually wear “large size head gear, coloured faces, elaborate costumes all over the body and musical beads on the legs (Gejje). Performers need great physique to perform with heavy costume for several hours and also strong voice and acting/dancing skills,” the Karnataka Tourism site added.
Yakshagana is a communal recreational activity. The dance-drama is a night-long event that takes place in open-air theaters, typically in village paddy fields after the winter crop has been harvested. The vibrant performance is meant to be enjoyed by people across generations.
As mentioned earlier, traditionally, all roles in a Yakshagana performance were played by men, including the female ones. Things have, however, changed and now women are also part of Yakshagana troupes. Each troupe comprises 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagavatha, who is the master of ceremonies and main storyteller. The performances draw massive crowds from far and wide, and the venue is filled with a fair-ground atmosphere that lasts until dawn.
The Yakshagana troupes are known as ‘melas’ and perform throughout the year, particularly in Udupi, South Canara, and North Canara.
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