Yaksha Gana

Yaksha Gana is to the Kanara region what Kathakali is to the Kerala region. It is an all night show, and often referred to as Aata. The Yakshas were an ancient tribe in Indian mythology and Yaksha Gana literally means Song of the Yakshas.It is a traditional theater form, combining dance, music, oral and stage, with it's own form. Mostly popular in Karnataka and Malnad areas, its a traditional dance form of it's own. Basically deriving from the Vaishnava Bhakti movement, which emphasized the teaching of religion to the masses also. But as of now the movement started some where in 1500 A.D. During the 19th century a number of troupes each with their own distinctive style started flourishing. 1950 saw it's commercialization with tent shows, ticketing system and themes centering around epics, Sanskrit Drama.

This art form has two variants- Badugutittu in North Kanara and Tenkutittu in South Kanara.Yakshagana is also noted for it's use of puppetry, and there is a Sutradhar who manipulates the puppet.

The performance begins at the twilight hours with the beating of drums for up to a couple of hours before the 'actors' get on the stage. The actors wear resplendent costumes, head-dresses, and painted faces which they paint themselves.

A performance usually depicts a story from the Hindu epics and puranas. It consists of a narrator who narrates the story in a song-like fashion, backed by musicians playing on traditional musical instruments as the actors dance to the tune, with actions that portray the story as it is being narrated. The actors have a limited dialog during the course of the performance.