Keywords
Yakshagana, South India, anthropology, performance studies, communities, Tulunadu, religious culture of India, local practices, modernization.
Summary
The paper deals with social and cultural aspects of traditional theatrical tradition of Yakshagana in Karnataka (South India). Author analyses the origin of Yakshagana, it’s classification and stratification, offers a cultural interpretation of repertoire and action, describes the social characteristic of troupes, explores the connection of Yakshagana with local religious culture and social functions. As a result, Yakshagana appears to be as a “middle” cultural phenomenon, connecting pan-Indian heritage with the local performing practices, and accumulating musical, literary, poetic, theatric and expressive knowledge.