Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Feb 6: The Yakshana show at Jeppu Majila has a history of nearly 42 years. The Yakshagana in Majila was first played in the year 1961.

A team of locals joined together to stage Yakshagana, which is the rich art of the Dakshina Kannada. Thus was formed the team, Jeppu Majila Hathu Samastharu. The Yakshagana was played successfully for nearly 32 years but they had a break of 3 to 4 years due to some financial and other problems.

The young team later took over the troupe and restarted the show. This was a milestone in the history of Yakshagana. In fact, today Yakshgana that is played in Majila has been very famous and unique in the whole of Dakshina Kannada. Majila gave a star value to Yakshagana Bayalata.  It is due to the hard work and true dedication of the team which consists of members from all community.

After the takeover by the new team, Yakshagana play has now a new look, not only in Majila, but elsewhere as well.

In the year 2000, three famous local personalities, D A Rahman, Eric Ozario and Kamalaksha Amin, irrespective of religion were felicitated on the occasion.

In 2005, the team donated Rs 10,000 each to two local schools in the area, and this is how it began its service to the society. During the same year, two famous personalities of Yashagana, Bhagvathas, Balipa and Kubanur Sridhar Rao were felicitated, which also included financial aid.

In 2007, a silver arch (Prabhavali) worth Rs 60,000 was offered to the fourth Mela of Kateel Yashagana Mandali. It is after this, all the other three troupes at Kateel Yakshagana Mela received the silver Prabhavali by the Mela management.

From 2010, financial support of Rs 25,000 to the Yakshagana troupe artists welfare fund (Kshema Nidhi) has been given every year. A silver cradle for the newly formed fifth Mela was offered by the Majila Hatthu Samastharu at a cost of nearly Rs 4,00,000.

In the year 2012, a gold chain worth Rs 1,80,000 was offered to the Mela, with Rs 25,000 to the welfare fund.

From the past two years, Rs 25,000 has been donated towards the welfare fund which is utilized for medical aid, especially during the monsoons, when there is no Yakshagana play.

This year, the team has decided to donate Rs 1,00,333 for the welfare fund.

Yakshagana will be performed this year on Saturday February 9, atthe highly illuminated Bayalata in the Majila Grounds, Jeppu. Yakshagana play will be telecasted live on Namma TV network, in the twin districts of Udupi and Mangalore.

A grand procession from the main road to the Yakshagana ground is organized every year, which consists of tiger dance, Chende sets, Kalladka dolls, fire stunts and many more.

Mahapuja will be performed in the afternoon, followed by lunch for nearly 5000 people. The puja at night will begin at 8 pm, followed by Prasada distribution to the gathering. Tea and other eatables will be served as a part of prasadam during the play.

Every year, more than 10,000 people gather to watch Yakshagana, which in fact is the highest gathering to view Yakshagana in the whole of the district.

A spectacular fire work display from the beginning to end of the play is another special attraction.

The team is a role model for upholding communal harmony through its Yakshagana play and the whole show is termed as 'Majilada Aata'.

Yakshagana Bayalata in Majila has set a trend in many ways like distribution of food, Kshema Nidhi and so on.