YAKSHAGANA

Yakshagana is a dance-drama, exhibiting the art of warfare and the illusion of creating a sense of battle which is famous in south kanara of Karnataka, in and around the udipi-mangalore belt. ‘Yakshagana’ which literally means “a type of music”, now signifies a form of musical dance-drama. It is a fascinating folk-drama with elaborate and colorful costumes, music and dancing. It presents mostly stories from Mahabharata, Ramayana and Puranas. Its costumes create a world of fantasy. This unique combination of drama, dance and music is an old art of south kanara (places nearby Mangalore and udipi in Karnataka) and neighboring Malnad districts (districts in Kerala). The ‘Bhagawata’ (the yakshagana performer) sings a series of songs from Yakshagana Prasangas and conducts the play. This Yakshagana has been, through the centuries, a vehicle of arts, culture and didactic instruction in the rural parts of India.

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