Decoration

Decoration is an integral part of Indian theater. It enhanced the spectacular view. The height of the theatre always depended on the type of the play to be presented in it. Theatres were constructed in two storeys having the shape of a mountain cave with a few windows to ensure excellent acoustic effects. The stage was divided into kaksays for the representation of change in scenes and other objects. In the kaksya vibhaga of the stage, for the representation of houses and cities, countryside with gardens, villages, forests, ocean, three worlds with animate and inanimate objects, islands, mountains, world of gods and demons there might be as many divisions as the plot required.

Theatres were decorated with all the oriental splendour, colour and radiance. The front portion of the stage used to be built of wood and richly ornamented with wooden carvings. Garlands were hung on the wooden carvings and showy arches added to its elegance. The mandapa had windows. The woodwork was polished and the walls were whitewashed before pictures were painted on them. The woodwork and uha (an additional moulding uppermost section of a column), pratyuha (a supporting member, lowermost portion of a column), sanjavana (quadrangle), vyala (an arch marked with leograph), Salahhanjika (an image or figure made of sala wood), nirvyuha (a cross circle), kuhara (interior window), vedika (pedestal), yantra (an architectural member of the bedstead, a band), jala (a latticed window), gavaksa (windows resembling the cow`s eye), pitha (pedestal, a pavement), dharma (a kind of tree of which pillars are constructed), Kapotali (a dovecot, crown work, fillet) and kuttima (a pavement) and stambha (column). Thus it is decorated with various columns. After the woodwork, come the walls. The column, nagadanta (a kind of window resembling the hood of a cobra), vatayana (window), kona (a class of building), pratiavara (moulding of the base or column of a door), dvara (door, gate), should not come opposite a door leading to the Rangapitha.

Thus decoration is a vital element of theatre.