Yakshagana culture higligted among people by Chikka Mela

Yakshagana culture higligted among people by Chikka Mela

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Oct 31, 2016: The traditional Chikka Mela Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of the coastal district and loved by the people here. For ages, Gejje seva (puja done after the event) has been considered a blessing from Navaratri to Diwali.  Organizing a Yakshagana event and staging the dance costs lakhs, which everyone cannot afford. Chikka Mela is a small group of Yakshagana artists who visit every house, perform a small context of epic stories followed by a puja, for which the resident gives offerings.
 
Mandarthi Mela artist Sandeep Shetty told TOI, "The Chikka Mela troupe consists of one male character (purusha vesha) and one woman character (sthree vesha). The background team includes the Bhagavatha, Madhalla and assistants. Chikka Mela is performed door-to-door and a short play is based on a mythological subject. This year, we started our performance on October 24 and will continue up to Diwali. In the morning, we distribute pamphlets. The performance begins at 6pm and ends around midnight. We perform at night so every household gets a chance to enjoy the dance and the blessings of the puja."

Suresh Acharya, a Madhalla artist, said, "As we perform in the dark, we to have carry lights and other necessary things. We do have vehicles and go to every houses. We perform for 10 to 15 minutes, before receiving a token of appreciation from the family (rice, fruits, coconut and money with betel leaves). We have many such Chikka Mela groups and keep changing every year. If anyone requests for a performance for a fixed time in advance, we perform for half-an-hour or one hour," he added.