Karnataka - Mangalore   

Driving home the message

MANGALORE: Breaking from the tradition of presenting mythological themes, a Yakshagana presented at Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat hall at Kottara here on Monday focussed on sanitation.

A group of artistes – some of them staff and elected members of Kilpady Gram Panchayat, Mulky (an award-winning panchayat) and others — staged the Yakshagana prasanga titled differently: “Swachata Yajna”. It was staged as part of the programme to present “nairmalya” (sanitation) award to panchayat raj institutions in Dakshina Kannada.

The prasanga had been specially written on sanitation theme. An imaginary story on sanitation theme had been adapted to Yakshagana.

Written to create awareness on sanitation, it was staged for the third time, according to Kolekady panchayat staffer Suresh Kolekady.

The prasanga focused on how plastic was posing a threat to people's health, animals, and water bodies and how absence of toilets created problems for women.

It started with Bhoodevi (mother earth) suffering from stomach pain. The reason for it was villain Barabarasura (who represented plastic). Barabarasura even polluted water bodies. The artistes had named the villain so as they said plastic bags when handled sounded like “bara bara.”

A cow also dies after consuming plastic. It highlighted how women faced hardship if there were no toilets at houses. A woman venturing out to answer nature's call. Finally, a well-educated Rajakumari (princess) counsels people and creates awareness on sanitation eradicates the problems.However, the artistes had to pay heavy price for staging the show. Thanks to the authorities of the panchayat, they were made to wait with make-up and costumes on for about four hours before staging it.

The artistes were ready with make-up and costumes at 10.30 a.m. But they had to wait till 2 p.m. to hit the stage after the function when everybody went for lunch.

A member of the panchayat Manohar Kotiyan who played the character of a villain in the show told The Hindu that the troupe had been asked to stage the show at 10.30 a.m. Just before the show, he said, “we are all drained out and uncomfortable. No enthusiasm to perform in true spirit”.

While some had their lunch before the show, some did not. Another member Jayakumar Mattu who played the character of Shiva said that it was uncomfortable to have food wearing the facing make-up and costumes.

Earlier at the function they received the taluk level Nairmalya Award for their panchayat with their make up and costumes on.

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