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Home / IAS Preparation / Yakshagana Dance

Yakshagana Dance: History, Variants, Elements & Features - UPSC Notes

Last Updated on Jan 17, 2025
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Yakshagana is a form of traditional folk dance. It is popular in the Coastal districts of Karnataka and parts of Kerala. The Yakshagana dance originated from the Vaishnavite bhakti movement. It is a wonderful mix of dance, music, song, scholarly dialogues, and vibrant costumes.

India’s art and culture is broad and diversified. The topics related to themes of traditional dance forms, festivals, etc., are crucial for the UPSC Civil Services exam. It is relevant under the syllabus of the Art and Culture in Prelims exam and General Studies (GS - 1) paper. Time and again, direct factual and analytical questions have been asked about these topics. 

This article will discuss Yakshagana and its main components. We will also learn about the Salient Features of Yakshagana, Different Variants of Yakshagana, Gombeyatta, and Yakshagana.

Learn more about the Mohiniyattam Dance!

GS Paper

General Studies Paper I

Topics for UPSC Prelims

Traditional folk dances of India, Bhakti movement

Topics for UPSC Mains

Role of traditional art forms in social cohesion, Government initiatives to promote and preserve traditional folk arts

About Yakshagana

Yakshagana is a form of traditional folk dance popular in the Coastal districts of Karnataka and Kasargod district of Kerala. The meaning of the word ‘Yakshagana’ is the song (gana) of the demi-gods or spirits (Yaksha).

  • It is usually performed at night in open-air theatres. 
  • The performance of yakshagana Karnataka takes place in the paddy fields of villages after the harvesting of winter crops. 
  • Earlier, It was performed only by men. Now, both men and women participate in the Yakshagana.

History of Yakshagana

Yakshagana is an ancient form of theatre that originated in the South Indian states of Karnataka and Kerala. Its origins can be traced back to the 11th to 16th centuries CE. It is believed to have evolved from earlier forms of storytelling and performance art.

  • The name "Yakshagana" is derived from the Sanskrit words "yaksha" and "gana." They mean "celestial being" and "song" respectively. This suggests that Yakshagana was originally associated with performances that were believed to be inspired by the gods.
  • In its early stages, Yakshagana was performed in temple courtyards and open-air spaces. The performances were often lengthy, lasting for several nights. They typically drew upon stories from Hindu mythology, particularly the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • Over time, Yakshagana developed its own unique style of performance. The performances also evolved to include elements of dance, mime, and improvisation.
  • Yakshagana played a significant role in the cultural and religious life of South India. It served as a means of disseminating religious beliefs and values.
  • In the mid-20th century, Yakshagana began to undergo some changes. Performances were increasingly held on indoor stages. Women began to participate in the art form. These changes helped to revitalize Yakshagana and introduce it to a wider audience.

Learn more about the Thullal dance!

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Salient Features of Yakshagana Dance

Some of the salient features of Yakshagana important for the UPSC IAS exam are:

  • It is one of the most ancient theatre art forms of Karnataka.
  • It was performed in the court of the Vijayanagar dynasty by the Jakkula Varu community.
  • The performance of Yakshagana is based on the Ghandharva grama musical system.
  • The present form of Yakshagana is influenced by the Vaishnava Bhakti movements.
  • It also bears a resemblance to Bhoota-kola and Theyyam.
  • It was formerly known as ‘Bayatala’ by some groups of people in Karnataka.
  • The performing team of Yakshagana consists of 15 to 20 actors.
  • The main feature of the Yakshagana is the beautiful facial expressions, dialogues, and dance moves.
  • The dialogues are usually delivered in Kannada, Tulu, or Sanskrit.
  • There are two sub-groups of Yakshagana:
    • Moodalopaya - It is popular in East Karnataka, and it is the oldest form.
    • Paduvlopaya - It is popular in West Karnataka.
  • The Paduvlopaya form has three sub-groups:
    • Tenkutittu
    • Badagutittu
    • Badabadagutittu

Learn more about the Manipuri Dance!

Different Variants of Yakshagana 

Yakshagana exists in two distinct styles: Badagutittu and Tenkutittu. These styles are differentiated by the instruments used, the costumes worn, and the overall aesthetic.

Badagutittu Style

The Badagutittu style is prevalent in the northern regions of South Canara. It is characterized by the use of a traditional Karnataka chande drum. This style was popularized by Shivram Karanth's Yakshagana Mandira. It presented a shorter and more modern form of Yakshagana.

Tenkutittu Style

The Tenkutittu style is dominant in the southern areas of South Canara. It is distinguished by the Kerala maddalam, a double-sided, leather-headed drum made from jackfruit tree wood. The costumes of the Tenkutittu style, particularly those of demons, are less exuberant. It gives it a closer resemblance to Kathakali than Badagutittu. Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat was a renowned practitioner of Tenkutittu style Yakshagana.

Learn more about the Sattriya Dance!

Key Elements of Yakshagana Dance

Yakshagana consists of several components that come together to form a complete performance. These components include:

The Act

It consists of stage performances by the artists, commentary, and traditional music.

  • The commentary is performed by the lead singer, known as Bhagavatha, in the local language.
  • The act focuses on small sub-stories known as Prasangas from the ancient Hindu epics of Ramayana or Mahabharata.
  •  The Prasanga is a collection of Yakshagana poems.

Costume and Ornaments

The costumes used in Yakshagana are elaborate and colourful. The costume is an important part of the performance. 

  • The costumes used are Large headgear, coloured faces, armlets for the shoulders, belts made up of light wood covered with golden foil, and musical beads on the legs.
  • Pagade is the crown or headwear worn by characters that have both heroic and playful characteristics. It is not available readymade. It is also known as the ‘kedage mandala.’ In headwear, pagade and kirita are worn by male personalities, and females wear only small pagade.
  • They are designed to reflect the characters' personalities, and the makeup creates distinctive facial expressions and features.

Learn more about the Difference between classical dance and folk dance!

The Instruments

The primary instruments used in Yakshagana are:

  • Chande: A double-headed drum that is played with the hands. It is the most important instrument in Yakshagana. It provides the rhythmic foundation for the performance.
  • Maddalam: A double-headed drum that is played with the hands or sticks. 
  • Cymbals: These are a pair of finger bells.
  • Mridangam: A barrel-shaped drum that is played with the hands or sticks. 

Other instruments that may be used in Yakshagana include:

  • Nadaswaram
  • Veena
  • Flute

The Troupes

The Mela or Tropes perform the Yakshagana. The troupe consists of two main parts:

  • Mummela - foreground actors
  • Himmela - singers and instrumentalists in the background.

Some of the popular troupes are:

  • Saligrama mela
  • Dharmasthala Mela
  • Mandarthi Mela
  • Perduru Mela
  • Kateel Mela

Check out the complete list of Important Folk dances of India!

Famous Yakshagana Dance Artists

Some of the most famous Yakshagana artists include:

  • Keremane Shivarama Heggade
  • Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat
  • B. N. Nanjunda Rao
  • N. L. Narasimhachar
  • T. K. Lakshminarayana

Check out the list of UNESCO Intangible Heritage of India.

Other Art Forms Related to Yakshagana

The Yakshagana has the following other sister art forms in other states:

  • Therukoothu in Tamil Nadu
  • Kutiyattam and Chakyarkoothu in Kerala
  • Veedhi Natakam in Andhra Pradesh
  • Kamsale in Mysore

All of the above art forms have significant cultural and traditional value in Karnataka and have been influenced by Yakshagana in some way or the other.

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Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

  • Yakshagana is one of the most ancient folk dance forms. It arised from the Vaishnavite bhakti movement, originating from the 11th to the 16th century CE.
  • The dance is widely performed in the Coastal districts of Karnataka, and some parts of Kerala.
  • Yakshagana performances often include acting, dialogue delivery, costume, music, and facial expression. It is mostly enacted from Hindu epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata.
  • Yakshagana is usually held at night in open air theatres. It was also originally an all-male show, but men and women now appear together.
  • There are two dominant forms of Yakshagana: Badagutittu and Tenkutittu. These are distinguished by instrumentations and types of costumes. Badagutittu is found to be common in northern South Canara. Tenkutittu is very popular in southern South Canara.
  • It deploys elaborative costumery that includes large head-gear, colored faces, and other traditional ornaments. It also has quite earthy instruments like chande, maddalam, cymbals, and mridangam.
  • Yakshagana is influenced and related to many other traditional art forms:
    • Therukoothu (Tamil Nadu),
    • Kutiyattam and Chakyarkoothu (Kerala),
    • Veedhi Natakam (Andhra Pradesh), and
    • Kamsale (Mysore).
  • Notable practitioners of the form include:
    • Keremane Shivarama Heggade,
    • Sheni Gopalakrishna Bhat,
    • B. N. Nanjunda Rao, and
    • troupes like Saligrama Mela and Kateel Mela.

We hope all your doubts related to the topic of Yakshagana are addressed after going through this article. Testbook provides comprehensive notes for Civil services and various other competitive examinations. It has always assured the quality of its products, like content pages, live tests, GK and current affairs, mocks, and so on. Ace your UPSC preparation with Testbook. Download the Testbook App now!

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Yakshagana UPSC FAQs

The musical instruments used in the Yakshagana are chenda, maddalam, jagatta or chengila (cymbals) and chakratala or elathalam (small cymbals).

Yakshagana is the dance form of Karnataka.

Yakshagana is the folk dance form of Karnataka.

The other name of Yakshagana is Bayatala.

Gombeyatta is a puppet form of art, whereas Yakshagana is a theatre dance form.
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