Originating in the South Canara district of Karnataka, Yakshagana or the song of celestial beings, is a traditional dance form, or rather, a traditional art form that blends music, theatre, dance and fine arts. Often portraying mythological stories such as the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Devipurana and Bhagavatha, Yakshagana has been a popular form of passing along the legendary stories of India’s past, arising from the Vaishnava bhakti moment, right from the age of Kalinga – when it was initially originated between the 11th and the 16th century. Tala (beat), raga (pitch and melody) and prasanga (a collection of poems) are the foundations of the art form, which makes use of all three aspects to produce a beautiful performance that recites a story in the form of a dance-drama.

The music is usually played by a group of musicians called the “Himmela” and the drama itself is performed by a group of artists called the “Mummela”. Yakshagana also features the involvement of heavy and intricate make-up that is often used to symbolise the roles of the characters and enhance the emotions they portray throughout the skit.

For example, black and ed makeup is often used to show the demonic nature of the character, while hues of pink indicate a heroic role. Such vibrant colours were achieved by using fullers earth, zinc oxide, and pigments of various colours, mixed with coconut oil. A trademark of the makeup, however, is the conch shell design on the sides of the cheeks, and a U-shaped mark on the forehead, which is often a sign of devotion to the almighty. Actors also wear enormous turban-like headgears, called mundasu, which indicates the significance of a character.

This turban is decorated with glitter, gold ribbons and shiny shards of mirror; the mightier the character, the more intricate is his turban’s design. The Kavacha, or the heavy chest ornament that contributes to the costume, is adorned with mirrors and shiny paper, which reflect light during shows – which were more often than not performed from dusk to dawn – thus illuminating the stage. Costumes and make-up, therefore played an important part not only in foreshadowing the character’s role in the story, but also in increasing the efficiency of the show.

Yakshagana is a vast art form that took birth in small temples in villages in the coast of Karnataka. Moodalapaya is the form of Yakshagana that retains most of the true form of the art, and is still prevelant in little towns and villages. Paduvalapaya, on the other hand, is the more popular of the two types, which has grown beyond temples and villages. This is further divided into two types, based on region and areas of specialization, namely, Badaguthittu and Thenkuthittu. Badaguthittu, which is native to the northern coast of Karnataka, places more emphasis on intense facial expressions, while Thenkuthittu, which is more commonly performed in the southern coast of Karnataka, incorporates more distinct forms of folk art and folk dance.

 

The performance itself, begins with the Bhagavatha, or the lead singer, invoking the blessings of the almighty, followed by the characters taking the centre stage, as he begins his commentary. The shows proceeded throughout the night, with actors portraying intense emotions, beautiful dialogues and graceful dances, proving that the art provided quality content to the audience, without compromising on quantity. Although the duration of these performances have now been reduced to a few hours, they still retain their magnetic charm. An amalgamation of different art forms, Yakshagana continues to thrive in today’s world, thanks to its authenticity and adaptability – having initially been performed only by men, but now including women in the art form – and extravagance and simplicity. The art form is most definitely a sensory bliss.