After two years of gloom, Rangayana bears festive look

Shilpa P. | NT

After the Covid gloom for the past two years, an air of celebration has gripped at Rangayana premises of Mysuru as two-day “Janapara Utsava-Rangayanadangaladalli Janapadaru” began on Saturday. This is a prelude to the tenday “Bahuroopi” national theatre festival, which will begin on March 11.

As many as 50 teams, including over 900 artistes from different parts of the State, are performing various folk art forms featuring colourful rich music and rhythmic dance reflecting the cultural ethos of the State at the Vanaranga and B.V. Karantha Rangachaavadi at Rangayana premises in Mysuru. The Utsava is hosted by Rangayana and directorate of Kannada and Culture special unit scheme.

Prior to the launch of Utsava at Rangayana, as many as 15 teams of artistes performed different folk art forms in a procession from Kote Anjaneyaswamy temple at the north gate of Mysuru Palace to Rangayana. During the procession, the artistes performed various folk art forms Karangolu, Kamsaale, Pata Kunitha, Chilipiligombe, Tamate, Nagaari, Hagaluvesha, Mahila Dollu Kunitha, Kombu Kahale, Mahila Veeragaase, Pooja Kunitha, Kodava Vaalaga, Huli vesha kunitha, Karadi Majalu and Somana kunitha.

Later, visually challenged senior folk artistes from Chamarajna g ar, Sobaane Gowramma inaugurated the Utsava at Rangayana premises, and rendered Sobaane songs. At “Janapada Kunitha Sangama” event, 13 teams performed Kangeelu, Mahila Veeragaase, Dollu, Tamate, Nagaari, Jaggalige, Lambaani dance, Pooja Kunitha, Pata Kunitha, Nandi dwaja, Kombu Kahale, Chit mela and Kamsaale.

At “Sanskrithi Saurabha”, five folk art teams sang folk songs, Chaudike pada, Soofi songs, performed Bharathanaatya, Bahuvaadya lahari- multi instrumental concert and Yakshagaana.On Sunday, four folk art teams will perfor m at “Janapara Sambrama”, including Kamsaale, Chandemela and render Sobaane pada and Sungama Sangeetha (light music). There will also be a seminar on “JaanapadaNelada Samskrithi” by folk expert, Dr Rathnamma and Dr Manju. And later cultural events will continue by 11 teams including Hindustani classical music concert by noted artist Pandit Venkteshkumar.

There will be Karaga Navilu dance, Thathvapada Gaayana, Arevaadya concert, folk songs, carnatic classical music, Janapara (peo people) sangeetha, Somanakunitha and Neelagaara pada. And the Utsava will conclude with a play “Vondu halli kathe” by Ranga Jagali of Mysuru.

Mysuru district minister S T Somashekar, Rangayana director Addanda C Cariappa, deputy director of Rangayana, Nirmala Matapathi, director department of Kannada and Culture, S Rangappa and others participated in the inaugural event.