Information about Yakshagana (ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ): You can find all details about Yakshagana Art here. Yakshagana is Karnataka’s richest art form with dance, song, play, costume. Know about Yakshagana in detail here:
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| Yakshagana artists performing on stage (Thenku Tittu) |
What is Yakshagana? Here is the answer
Yakshagana (in Kannada ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನ, pronounced as Yaksha Gaana) is a traditional art form. Yakshagana is developed in to a classical form and it is growing as Karnataka’s greatest art form. It involves dance, songs, music, drama, expression, costumes, makeup, scholarly dialogue etc. Watching Yakshagana is nothing but treat to our eyes and mind.
Yakshagana is an elaborate dance-drama with melody and unique in Karnataka. Yakshagana is a rare combination of music, dance, song, scholarly dialogues and colourful makeup and costumes. Yakshagana artists are stars who are all very knowledgeable about our rich culture, Puranas (Epic).
Yakshagana also known as the art of god and it is considered sacred. Yakshagana artists perform with complete dedication and spirituality.
When Yakshagana programme starts, a celestial world unfolds before the audience, in dark background with loud singing by the singer called Bhagavata, percussion instruments Chende and Maddale played. Artists, dressed with unique costumes creates a Yaksha Loka (Celestial world) in the stage itself.
Yakshagana also depicts on stage, the mythological and historical stories of India.
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What is Yakshagana?
Yaksha means nature’s spirit or celestial or demi god and Gana means song. This theatre play is a combination of music, dance, expression, costumes, dialogues, colourful makeup, lightings, stage techniques of a unique style. Yakshagana show narrates stories of Gods, heaven, kings, history of places or events of Purana. In Yakshagana, dialogue is delivered in either Tulu or Kannada and now it is enacted in English, Hindi, Malayalam too.
Earlier it was a night-long event, with elaborately adorned performers dancing to the beat of Chende-Maddale in open-air stages, named as Rangasthala – usually in the village paddy fields after the winter crop has been harvested. Now due to the changing lifestyles, Yakshagana performed with limited time. Traditionally, men portray all roles, including the female ones, though women are now part of Yakshagana troupes. A typical troupe consists of 15 to 20 actors and a Bhagavatha, main storyteller also called as director of Yakshagana show.
Elements of Yakshagana:
The Act: Each performance typically focuses on a small sub-story (known as ‘Prasanga’) from ancient Hindu epics of Ramayana or Mahabharata and Puranas. That's why it is also called Dashavatara (10 avatars of Vishnu). The show consists of both stage performances by talented artists with costumes also called as Mummela. Bhagavatha and Chende, Maddale, Chakrathala playing artists called as Himmela or background musicians.
The Music (ಹಿಮ್ಮೇಳ): Musical instruments used in Yakshagana include Chande (drum), Harmonium (now replaced by Electronic Shruthi box), Maddale, Taala (mini metal clappers in Badagu thittu and rounded metal called Jaagate in Thenku Thittu). Chakra tala, bigger metal clappers is unique to Thenku style of Yakshagana.
The Dress (ವೇಷಭೂಷಣ) : Costumes used in Yakshagana are very unique and elaborate. 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 Troupes (ಮೇಳ): There are several popular troupes (known as Melas) performing Yakshagana throughout the year. Kateel Mela, Saligrama mela, Dharmasthala Mela, Hiriyadka Mela, Mandarthi Mela, Perduru Mela, Bappanadu Mela, are some of the leading names.
Experiencing Yakshagana:
Yakshagana performances occur at multiple places, mainly in the coastal areas usually from November to April, every year. There are many Yakshagana groups in WhatsApp and Telegram apps, they will share the Yakshagana program or Yakshagana Performance details on daily basis.
Yakshagana Talamaddale:
Another form of Yakshagana is Thalamaddale, in which, there are no costumes involved. Mummela (Artists who attain the roles of purana characters) will sit in front of the Himmela artists and deliver the dialogues.
Types of Yakshagana (ಯಕ್ಷಗಾನದ ವಿಧಗಳು):
There are mainly two kinds of Yakshagana, called Thenku Thittu (Southern Form) and Badagu Thittu (Northern form) Yakshagana. Again, Badagu style has other two types, called nadu thittu and badaa badagu thittu.
Yakshagana is a unique performance and cultural extravaganza, so never miss the opportunity to witness one of Karnataka’s unique art forms in India and foreign countries too.