Keeping Kannada alive - Yakshagana way

The contribution of Yakshagana to Kannada art and culture is immense. The costumes, songs and dance performances of the folk theatre form has roots in coastal Karnataka almost 400 years ago and is destined to keep the language alive.

Udupi:The culturally rich Udupi region of Karnataka is keeping Kannada alive through Yakshagana, an art form which is the blend of energy and culture. Yakshagana, the traditional theatre art form of the coastal belt here combining dance, music and dialogue, generally dealing with stories from Hindu mythology.

The contribution of Yakshagana to Kannada art and culture is immense. The costumes, songs and dance performances of the folk theatre form has roots in coastal Karnataka almost 400 years ago.

Yakshagana is one of the most popular folk theatre forms. Vigorous dance, colourful costumes and subtle expressions make the variations of art form popular among art lovers.

In the eight-hour-long Yakshagana, the artistes use only Kannada words to progress the character and the scenes etched out in detail. The performers rest till nightfall, given the Yakshagana is a night-long performance.

The literal meaning of Yakshagana is divine music. The entire progression of performance is controlled by music. There have been many subtle changes in style and form, but the essence of Yakshagana has remained unchanged. The art form will thrive in spite of extensive experimentation and so will the language Kannada.

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