From Udupi, the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, comprising its President and all members, has formally appealed to Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. They seek official declaration of Yakshagana, the celebrated coastal performing art, as 'Karnataka State Art' to ensure its preservation and development.
This plea emphasizes an art form deeply ingrained in the region's cultural fabric. Yakshagana, often termed the 'male art' of coastal Karnataka, boasts centuries of history as a unique, deeply rooted traditional performing art and a proud living theatrical tradition of the state. Its diverse forms primarily manifest through the Paduvalapaya and Moodalapaya traditions. Paduvalapaya further divides into Tenku, Badagu, and Badabadagu, renowned for their role in preserving Kannada across Karnataka. For generations, this art has interwoven itself into the lives of communities in Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, and Uttara Kannada districts.
The Academy's letter highlights Yakshagana's comprehensive nature, extending beyond mere dance. It integrates Bhagavathike (narration), singing, instrumental music, dialogue, acting, elaborate costumes, facial makeup, and intricate stagecraft into a singular, cohesive presentation. Karnataka Tourism also identifies it as a distinct blend of music, song, dance, and scholarly discourse. The art form sustains a vast ecosystem, supporting over 15,000 professional artists and thousands of amateurs. More than 100 Yakshagana troupes, known as melas, operate statewide. Its rich repertoire includes over 10,000 compositions and more than 10 lakh songs. Academically, Yakshagana has been the subject of over 50 PhD studies and an equal number of M.Phil studies across its Moodalapaya and Paduvalapaya styles.
Beyond entertainment, Yakshagana stands as Karnataka's invaluable cultural heritage, bringing music, literature, dance, acting, costumes, and Indian culture to life on stage. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India, recognizes such living traditions as intangible cultural heritage, reinforcing the appeal's argument that preserving Yakshagana equals preserving the land's culture. The art also serves as a cultural medium for value-based public education, propagating humanity. Preserving Yakshagana directly supports a diverse workforce, including artists, Bhagavathas, instrumentalists, costume makers, makeup artists, stage staff, sound and light technicians, organizers, and management personnel, thus bolstering a unique economic system. Recognized by the Karnataka Tourism Department as coastal Karnataka's identity and a prime attraction for cultural tourism, Yakshagana has also been documented by the Sangeet Natak Akademi of the Government of India as a traditional theatre form of the state. Considering these extensive facets, the Academy asserts Yakshagana fully qualifies for state art status, advocating for its comprehensive development, drawing parallels to how Kathakali and Mohiniyattam in Kerala, Lavani in Maharashtra, and Kuchipudi in Andhra Pradesh have flourished under similar official recognition.
Image: varthabharati.in
đź“° Source: Vartha Bharati Udupi