Mysuru: The Uttara Kannada District Cultural Association will organise a three-day Yakshagana and Talamaddale Festival from July 24 to 26, bringing together renowned artistes from across Karnataka to celebrate and preserve one of the state’s richest traditional performing arts. The festival will feature classical Yakshagana performances, Talamaddale presentations and traditional cuisine from Uttara Kannada, with free entry for the public.
Announcing the event at a press conference, Ramachandra G. Bhat said the association, which has been promoting cultural and literary activities for the past 53 years, has organised the festival to preserve and popularise the centuries-old tradition of Yakshagana among audiences in Mysuru.
Festival to begin with Talamaddale performance
The three-day cultural festival will commence on July 24 at 5.30 pm with a Talamaddale presentation titled ‘Sudhanva Moksha’.
The inaugural programme will be held at Yoga Narasimha Kalabhavana, Gange Road, Kuvempu Nagar, and will be presented by artistes from the Bengaluru-based Phatak Yaksha Samskruti Trust.
The performance will feature Anantha Hegde as the Bhagavata, while noted Yakshagana artiste A.P. Phatak of Karkala will perform on the maddale, accompanied by other experienced artistes.
Organisers said the opening event will showcase the traditional narrative style and musical richness of Talamaddale, a dialogue-based form of Yakshagana that is performed without elaborate costumes or stage settings.
Yakshagana performances on July 25 and 26
The festival will continue with full-fledged Yakshagana performances over the next two evenings.
On July 25, audiences will witness the presentation of ‘Sharasethu Bandha – Babruvahana Kalaga’, while the concluding programme on July 26 will feature ‘Brahmasura Mohini’.
Both performances will begin at 5.30 pm at the Uttara Kannada District Cultural Association premises in Kuvempu Nagar.
The organisers said the productions will feature several acclaimed Yakshagana artistes from different parts of Karnataka, offering audiences an opportunity to experience the vibrant storytelling, music, dance and costumes associated with the traditional art form.
Traditional cuisine and free entry
In addition to the cultural programmes, visitors will also have the opportunity to savour traditional delicacies from Uttara Kannada district during the three-day festival.
The organisers said the food stalls have been included to showcase the region’s culinary heritage alongside its performing arts, creating a comprehensive cultural experience for visitors.
Entry to all programmes has been kept free of cost, enabling art enthusiasts, students and families to attend the festival without any admission fee.
However, the association has invited visitors to make voluntary donations to support its cultural activities and future initiatives aimed at preserving traditional art forms.
Association continues cultural mission
The Uttara Kannada District Cultural Association has been actively promoting the cultural heritage of Uttara Kannada in Mysuru for more than five decades through literary events, theatre, music and folk performances.
Organisers said the annual Yakshagana festival is part of the association’s continuing efforts to introduce younger generations to Karnataka’s rich artistic traditions and encourage greater appreciation for Yakshagana and Talamaddale.
The press conference was attended by Sandhya Ravi, T. Gajanana Bhat, G. Sunil Haldankar, Manjunath Hegde Golikai, Manjunath Bhat, Tejaswi Nayak, N. Nagendra Bhat and other office-bearers of the association.
The organisers have invited the public to participate in the festival and support efforts to preserve Karnataka’s traditional performing arts.