Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (MS)

Kundapur, Mar 5: Bhandarkar's college of the city has given its own contribution to the art of Yakshagana. The Yakshagana Sangha, which is active is the college trains students on Yakshagana, presentation, playing instruments like Chende, Maddale etc.

Badagu-Badabadagu Yakshagana museum ‘Aavartha Yaksha Vedike’, which was established in the college two years ago in order to give more stress on the art is attracting Yakshagana lovers. This museum, which is inside the college gives comprehensive details of Yakshagana art. Artefacts of Yakshagana made from Clay mould and various photographs draws the attention of art lovers.

Colour is very important in Yakshagana. In face painting, the nature of character played by the artiste is depicted. Various types of face masks of numerous characters that appear in Yakshagana are kept in the museum. They include the masks of characters like Gandharva, Karna, Arjuna, Krishna, Shalya, Subhadre, Prabhavati, Kamsa, Hanumantha, Kiratha, Brahmana, Jambava, Abhimanyu, Vali, Sugreeva, Rakshasa Dhoota Hasya, male and female.

Various characters appear in Yakshagana. Every character is unique in its appearance and personality. In order to make this known to the visitors, the museum has dummies of such characters also. Dummies of Badagu style Krishna, Badagu King, Badagu housewife, Chitragande, Subhadre etc, Demon of Badagu style, crown dummy of Prabhavali, joker character of Badagu style, messenger etc, traditional girl dummy of Badagu style, face mask of butterfly made of rice flour and crown made of feather of peacock.

Costume plays an important a part in Yakshagana art as the dialogue delivery of the character. From Kase saree till the crown of Kedage mandale, all the costumes and fittings are very important. In this museum detailed explanation about the costume and its importance is available. There is explanation about the face make up with related photographs. There are also photographs of Dondi Belakina Yakshagana, Mukhavarnike demonstration, Ranganade, scenes of Yakshagana training, ornaments used in Yakshagana etc.

There is a permanent dummy of Yakshagana stage of Badagu style in this museum. The stage consists of six poles, the traditional stage style of Badagu tradition, throne, background screen and presence of background artists is depicted effectively.

The museum is established under the guidance of Dr H Shantaram, president of MAHE, with the cooperation of principal of the college Dr N P Narayana Shetty and leadership of convener of Aavartha Yaksha Vedike Shashank Patel. Mithun Naik of Brahmavar has prepared dummies and face masks in clay mould.

Students from various colleges, who are interested in the art of Yakshagana are visiting the museum of the college. Interested people are given open entry to visit the museum. This museum can be viewed with the permission of college authorities.