Professional Yakshagana ‘melas’ (troupes) were forced to give up their daily performances mid-way in March owing to COVID-19 and the lockdown restrictions that ensued. The pandemic has thrown up new challenges, and the managers of the troupes are worried about the performances and preparation for the next season. The lockdown has hit various stakeholders associated with Yakshagana and they have incurred losses worth crores. Keremane Shivananda Hegde, who managed the over eight-decade-old Idagunji Mahaganapathi Yakshagana Mandali in Uttara Kannada, said that the pandemic is “an unimaginable setback” to the artistes and others dependent on Yakshagana. Mr. Hegde, who is the third generation artiste in the famous Keremane family devoted to Yakshagana, said many artistes do not have a life security.

Source: The Hindu May 30, 2020 17:00 UTC