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Yakshagana Performance

by Lakshmi Menon
(Bangalore, India)


Recently, I had an opportunity to watch Yakshagana stage performance in connection with our vibrant festival Ganesha Chathurthi. Having never seen this unique form of art before, it was an amazing experience to me.

  
This colorful traditional dance form is unique to Karnataka. Yakshagana is believed to have originated from coastal Karnataka around 400 years ago.

Yakshagana is an elaborate dance-drama performance of Karnataka. The specially trained artists  with their colourful costumes perform Yakshagana  with a blend of racy music, forceful dance, and extempore speech. 

The popular musical instruments used in Yakshagana are Chande (drums), Harmonium, Maddale, Taala (mini metal clappers) and flute.

The story telling is depicted from Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharatha and presented in such a way that it is a wonderful entertainment for the audience. 

Yakshagana is closely related to many traditional art forms of other States of India such as Kathakali of Kerala, Therukoothu of Tamilnadu, Bhaona of Assam, Prahlada Nata of Odisa, and Jathra of Bengal.

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