Tell me about Yakshagana , folk play of Karnataka.?

Question

types,which are musical instruments used etc

Answer 1

Yakshagana is a classical folk art form of the state of Karnataka in India mostly popular in the districts of Uttara Kannada, Shimoga, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kasaragod district of Kerala. This would be considered to be a form of opera in western eyes. Actors wear costumes and enact the various roles. Traditionally, Yakshaganas would go on all night. It is sometimes simply called as Aataā in both Kannada and Tulu (meaning play).

Yaksha-gana literally means the song (gana) of a Yaksha. Yakshas were an exotic tribe mentioned in the Sanskrit literature of ancient India.

The origin of any art form is in a way difficult to fix and the time and process of formation conceived is often arbitrary. As art forms grow over a period, and they include various elements from time to time and undergo many changes until they appear as we see them today. Theater forms become solo performances (for example, Kathak) and may be vice versa.

Yakshagana is a traditional theater form combining dance, music, spoken word, costume-makeup, and stage technique with a distinct style and form. Both the word Yakshagana and its world are interesting and intriguing. It is a theater form mainly prevalent in the coastal districts and adjacent areas, in Karnataka. It is closely connected with other forms prevailing in other parts of Karnataka, and its neighboring states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamilnadu and Maharastra.

Yakshagana, like many other forms, defies neat classification into categories like folk, classical, rural. It can be included into each of these, or all of them together, depending upon our line of approach. Being a theater form, unlike a dance form, it is more plural and dynamic. And hence it exhibits many types and varieties inside itself. However, Yakshagana can be rightly called a traditional form. Primarily it is a name given to the one prevailing in Coastal and Malnad areas of Karnataka, though in fringe forms like Doddata are also called by the same name often, especially recently . The traditional theater form Mudalpaya of Southern Karnataka, the Doddata of Northern Karnataka, the Kelike in the borders of Andhra Pradesh, the Ghattadakore of Kollegal in Chamarajnagar district – are such forms . Among them, the Ghattadakore is a direct branch of Coastal Yakshagana, while Mudalapaya is the most closely connected form. There is a form called Yakshaganamu in Andhra Pradesh also which exhibits resemblance to the forms of Karnataka plateau region.-

Answer 2

Yakshagana is believed to have a history of one thousand years. Yakshagana is believed to have represented a specific type of music of the 'yakhas'. Yaksha is the name of certain demi-gods attending on 'Kubera'- the god of wealth in the Hindu mythology. 'Gaana' means song. By combining the meaning, the term Yakshagana might mean the 'song of Yakshas'.

Of the 20 districts in Karnataka, Yakshagana has established its firm roots in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Dharwad, Mysore and Hassan. Based on its technique of presentation, Yakshagana has been broadly classified into 'Mudalapaya' (the custom of the east) and 'Paduvalapaya' (the custom of the west). Popularly known as 'Bayalata' or 'Aata', Mudalapaya is widely practiced in places like Tumkur, Bangalore, Kolar, Mandya, Mysore, Hassan, Chitradurga, Bellary, Dharwad, Bijapur, Gulbarga, Raichur, Bidar and Belgaum. While Yakshagana of North Karnataka has assumed varied forms like 'Sannata', 'Doddata', 'Krishna Parijatha' and 'Dasarata'. The form of Paduvalapaya' popular extensively in Uttara and Dakshina Kannad districts has been further divided into 'Thenku Tittu' (south) and 'Badagu Tittu' (north). Paduvalapaya is practiced in places like Karki, Keladi, Ikkeri, Sagar, Kolluru, Maranakatt, Sankuru, Coondapur, Kotesvara, Kota, Udupi, Dharmasthala, Mangalore, Brahmavara, Suratkal and Saligrama.

The Epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata offer extensive material for Yakshagana Prasangas (topic). The literature is presented both in verse and prose and the former is interpreted in simple prose and dialogues. The show begins with an announcement of Yakshagana by beating the 'Chande', in important places of the village.

Stage: Yakshagana is performed in a rectangular stage built with four wooden poles installed on four corners and covered by mats of palm leaves on the top. Away from the backstage is a small place called 'Chowki', the greenroom for the artistes. The audience sits on all the three sides of the platform and a curtain covers only the back stage.

Characters: The life force of Yakshagana is the Bhagavata, the chief narrator of the story, in the verse form. Bhagavata also conducts light hearted conversation with the 'Vidushaka'- the jester. The dialogues between these two characters is very amusing and the Bhagavata ably supports the Vidushaka in carrying out extempore dialogues.

Music: Music is the essence of Yakshagana and the narration is in verse form. It is the songs and poems which transmit the story and the songs are invariably sung by the Bhagavata. The music in Yakshagana is excellent and it seems to have been woven into Yakshagana with commendable background knowledge of its costuming and make up of the characters. Prose in Yakshagana is in the form of dialogues. The songs are sung by the Bhagavata at a very high pith and hence is considered as a distinct style of music. The rhythm that dictates the body movements, footwork and the performance actually flows from the musical instruments. In Paduvalapaya, 'Chande' (a cylindrical percussion drum beaten with two thin sticks) is the vigorous instruments and the beats of the Chande are symbolic of valour and prowess. Regional differences allow the use of other instruments like gong and cymbals. In Mudalapaya, the chief instrument is Mukhaveena (flute like wind instrument, a form of Nadaswara, a kind of musical pipe). Percussion instruments like the 'Maddale' and the 'Mrudanga' lend musical support. The latest trend is to use harmonium.

Answer 3

i dont know much about it but i think it is a play done from ramayana

Answer 4

love