Yakshagana
Though famous in Karnataka, Yakshagana is also performed fervently in Kasargod district. Unlike the stylised costumes and masks of Kathakali, Yakshagana is a true people's theatre, commonly staged in the paddy fields at night and the themes are the same as all over India, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and mythological tales from the Puranas. In predominantly rural areas with little or no transportation, Yakshagana enjoys immense popularity and its exponents are honoured just as great stage artistes are. Although the name signifies the music of celestial beings, Yakshagana is an amalgam of the sky with the earth. here is both mystery and robustness about this form in which singing and drumming merge with dancing, and words with gestural interpretation, and players clad in costumes of striking colour and contours.
A typical Yakshagana performance begins with a prayer offering to the lord Ganesha, which is followed by a comedy act, accompanied by the background music of the chenda and the maddale, and a tala (cymbals) played by a team of three. The narrator, who is also a part of the team is called Bhagavata, and is the producer, the director, and the head of the ceremony. His primary task involves the narration of the story through songs, introduction of the characters, and occasionally conversing with them. A sound musical knowledge and a well-built physical structure are the pre-requisites for an artiste, besides a strong understanding of the Hindu scriptures. The plays witness performances by the artistes enacting the roles of several mythical characters in a flawless manner. Another unique feature of Yakshagana is the totally unrehearsed and unwritten use of dialogues, which makes it so special.
A typical Yakshagana performance begins with a prayer offering to the lord Ganesha, which is followed by a comedy act, accompanied by the background music of the chenda and the maddale, and a tala (cymbals) played by a team of three. The narrator, who is also a part of the team is called Bhagavata, and is the producer, the director, and the head of the ceremony. His primary task involves the narration of the story through songs, introduction of the characters, and occasionally conversing with them. A sound musical knowledge and a well-built physical structure are the pre-requisites for an artiste, besides a strong understanding of the Hindu scriptures. The plays witness performances by the artistes enacting the roles of several mythical characters in a flawless manner. Another unique feature of Yakshagana is the totally unrehearsed and unwritten use of dialogues, which makes it so special.
