YAKSHAGANAM
 Yakshaganam is one of
the earliest folk theatre forms of Andhra Pradesh. It has originated as a singing
tradition and now has emerged as a popular full-fledged theatre tradition. It is now
called Yakshagana Natakam or Yakshagana Prabandham or Yakshagana Mahanatakam. The theme
also has changed from the religious to political subjects now.
On the occasions of religious festivals and
rituals, female singers called ‘Yakshinis’ sang songs in worship of the
deities. This was particularly true with the Srisailam and Draksharamam temples. Now even
narratives are added to this with different performers taking up different characters to
give it a dramatic form with stage direction.
Yakshinis wear elaborate dresses and
ornaments around the head, wrists and neck and small bells on the ankles. They wear a
flower garland with their face painted in white. |
