Udupi: The Mandarthi Yakshagana Melas are a grand tradition that has endured for more than a century in the charming village of Mandarthi, tucked away among the lush Karnataka coastal landscapes. These melas, or troupes, are renowned for their mesmerising performances that vividly portray Hindu mythology through vibrant costumes, entrancing dance, and resounding background scores with interpretation. A remarkable journey recently came to an end as the village celebrated the end of yet another successful season.
Ratha Beedi, the area surrounding the temple, was filled with the melodic beats of traditional instruments on a blissful Monday night. All five Yakshagana troupes gathered, ready to put on a spellbinding spectacle, and there was a palpable sense of excitement in the air. Both residents of the village and visitors gathered eagerly, their hearts brimming with anticipation.
The Mandarthi Yakshagana Melas had begun a lengthy tour, enthralling audiences in the districts of Dharawad, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Uttara Kannada, and Udupi. They performed an impressive total of 970 shows during the season, and their commitment and artistry were evident in every one of them. Over 19,000 shows had been reserved with the melas through the year 2044, demonstrating the popularity of Yakshagana and the unwavering devotion of the populace.
The melas’ dedication to their craft, though, continued after the regular season. Two troupes have been performing daily shows during the monsoon season for the past six years, defying the accepted wisdom that Yakshagana should not be performed then. The choice was made in order to respect the requests and wishes of devotees who had been waiting for the vows to be fulfilled for a very long time. This remarkable evolution in the melas’ performance schedule had been made possible by the devotion to the art form and respect for the devotees.
It was an unusual experience to stage an off-season show, with separate Ganapathi pooja and “poorva ranga” rituals performed for each host. Then, the gifted performers from the two troupes combined their efforts to produce a seamless and harmonious collaboration between the melas, which exemplified the spirit of unity and dedication that defined Yakshagana.
Offstage, the Mandarthi Yakshagana Melas helped to cultivate a small performing arts community. About 250 devoted members of the troupes’ cast prioritised their own well-being in addition to ensuring that their scheduled performances went off without a hitch. Showing how much the Melas valued and supported their talented performers, retirement benefits included a lump sum payment of Rs. 1 lakh and access to emergency medical care.
With the second troupe beginning in 1992 and the fifth troupe appearing in 2004, the number of Yakshagana troupes has grown over time. To ensure that Yakshagana’s rich cultural heritage endured, this expansion was motivated by a desire to meet the demands of hosts and shorten the wait times for shows.
The residents of Mandarthi reflected in gratitude and pride as the season’s final notes resounded throughout the night. The Mandarthi Yakshagana Melas reignited the flames of tradition once more, transcending space and time and creating an enduring bond with the hearts of the villagers. The colourful stories and divine performances of Yakshagana continued to enthral future generations, carrying on their legacy.