|
 Virgase is one of the most prominent folk performances in Karnataka, which is connected with the Saiva and Virasaiva religious sects. Scholars believe that the older Saiva sects, with an affinity to tantric practices, nurtured many performatory genres. Later, when the Virasaivas appeared in the twelfth century, they adapted those genres to serve as propagandist media for the new movement. Most probably, Viragase is one such form, its name derived from its costume. The costume can be explained as short dhoti worn in the heroic, valorous style, besides a kurta, turban, waistband, and ornaments.
Today, Viragase is normally seen at village fairs and community occasions like marriages. The performances often take the shape of offerings to God by the devotees. It consist of vigorous song and dance combined with storytelling by a group of eight to twelve people, including singers, drummers, cymbalists, and sword dancers. The narrator intervenes to relate the story in epigrammatic couplets, and the dancers join him as a chorus. Sometimes there are multiple narrators, each picking up the story-strand in turn. The themes revolve around the demigod Virabhadra, created by the wrathful Siva to combat Daksha. With the entry of Virabhadra the narrative climax reaches the zenith as the subsequent tale eulogizes his various heroic acts. Each such episode is brief. As a result, Viragase is oriented more to creating an atmosphere of devotion than communicating a narrative. This can be said as one main reason why it has become more popular today as a social celebration than a dramatic performance.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
(Last Updated on : 18-08-2015)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Drama & Theatre
|
|
|
| • | Gurdial Singh Phul
Gurdial Singh Phul was a Punjabi dramatist of ancient time.
| | | • | Ancient Indian Theatre Stages
Ancient Indian Theatre Stages as mentioned in Natyasastra by Bharata Muni are of various types. These drams enacted in these stages were of different types and were attended by many people.
| | | • | Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair
Kottarakkara Sridharan Nair was a Malayalam actor of both theatre and stage. He is a celebrated person of his clan who is known for battling the Britishers. He has won two film awards for the state of Kerala.
| | | • | Mudiyettu
Mudiyettu is a traditional ritual theatre of Kerala, where the enactment is a dance drama worshipping the Goddess Bhadrakali and celebrating her triumph over the evil demons Daarika and Daanavendra.
| | | • | Krishna Parijatha
Krishna Parijatha is a folk drama which narrates the story of Lord Krishna, Rukmini and Satyabhama. It is immensely popular in Karnataka.
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
