Artists of Siddivinayaka Prasaditha Yakshagana Mandali, Hattiyangady presenting a “Visha Kanye” show at Guddeyangady in Udupi on November 12, 2024.
| Photo Credit: UMESH S SHETTIGAR
Yakshagana ‘melas’ (performing troupes) in the coastal belt have kickstarted their daily tour for 2025-26 season with two new ‘melas’ taking birth in this touring season from November to May.
A tour of the ‘melas’ contributes to the circulation of regional economy as an night performance involves team work by different stakeholders, in addition to carrying forward the heritage of Yakshagana theatre.
The two new performing troupes — Kukke Shree Subrahmanya Swamy Krupaposhita Yakshagana Mandali and the seventh troupe of over a century-old Durgaparameshwari Prasadita Dashavatara Yakshagana Mandali of Kateel — will be addition to already existing over 40 ‘melas’ in the belt.
If Sri Jnanashakthi Subrahmanya Swamy Krupaposhita Yakshagana Mandali of Pavanje began its tour from this November 2 (last Sunday), another over a century old Dharmasthala Manjunatheswara Krupaposhita Yakshagana Mandali started its tour on November 5. The Dharmasthala mela performs in Dharmasthala town itself till November 22 and will later stage performances in different places.
Bappanadu Sri Durgaparameshwari Krupaposhita Dashavatara Yakshagana Mandali of Mulky began its tour on Sunday (November 9). Other troupes will start their journey in phases before mid-December.
S. A. Varkady, convener of new Kukke Subrahmanya mela, which will start its tour from December 5, said that its 58 shows have been booked. The troupe has about 40 members, including artists and helpers. All seven troupes of Kateel mela will commence their tour from November 16.
Artists of Kateel Yakshagana mela get ready for a performance at the ‘chowki’ (green room).
| Photo Credit:
H S MANJUNATH
Melas attracting professionals
Yakshagana theatre of late has been attracting many graduates and post graduates in different professions, who are turning up as part-time artists in the ‘melas’ during night. After attending to their full-time jobs during day time, these professionals perform during the night in ‘melas’, as recently the troupes have switched from all-night performances to short-duration shows held from 6.30 p.m. till midnight.
Avinash Baipadittaya, a journalist who quit a prominent Kannada daily a few days ago to join Kateel mela as a ‘maddale’ player, said that he hailed from a family of performers as his both parents were Yakshagana artists. “I grew up watching Yakshagana in Kateel. It is the passion for the art form which drew me to Yakshagana theatre by quitting active journalism.”
Unlike yesteryears, artists switching over from one ‘mela’ to another in the beginning of every Yakshagana season has now emerged as a topic of discussion in social media with art lovers and fans posting comments on how the addition and quitting of artists will impact the strength and weakness of ‘melas’.
Meet of social media influencers
As a new development, the Kateel mela has organised a convention in Kateel on November 11 of social media influencers who will stream the performances of the mela live and share information about it on social media, before its tour begins from November 16.
It will hold a workshop to record the history of the mela on November 10. In addition, the mela has organised a convention of artists of its seven troupes on November 13.
Published – November 09, 2025 04:52 pm IST
