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Yakshgana ,the art of dakshina kannada..

Yakshagana is a theater form that combines, dance, music, dialogue, costume, make-up and stage techniques with a unique style and form. This theater style is mainly played in the coastal districts and Malenadu regions of Karnataka,  and traditionally played for whole night, till sunrise next morning.

Yakshagana is the recent (200 years) scholastic name for what are known as , It is believed to have evolved from pre-classical music and theatre during the Bhakti movement. It has drawn comparisons to the Western tradition of opera. Actors wear costumes and enact various roles. Traditionally, Yakshagana would go on all night. It is sometimes simply called as ಆಟ"play" in both Kannada and Tulu. Yaksha-gana literally means the song (gana) of ayaksha...

Yakshagana consists of a himmela "background music group" and a mummela "dance and dialog group", which together perform yakshagana poetry. Himmela consist of a bhagawata"singer" who is also the director (also called the first actor, modalane vesha), ,harmonium for drone  and chande (loud drums). The music is based on carnatic ragas characterised by melodic patterns called Mattu and yakshagana tala. Yakshagana Talas are believed to be based on patterns which later evolved into Carnatic talas.