Udupi: ‘Desi Utsav’ – Variety of Cultural Richness Mesmerizes Audience
Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Feb 25: ‘Desi Utsav’ showcasing the richness of indigenous cultural variety of the country, was staged for four days from February 17 to 20 at Muddana Mantapa of MGM College here. The festival was organized under the aegis of Regional Folklore Study Centre of MGM College, Yakshagana Kendra, Academy of General Education, and the state tourism department.

During these four days, a blend of folklore art forms from Kerala and Karnataka was presented to the people. The audience was ecstatic at witnessing some of very rare forms of folklore from the two states.

On the first day, ‘Madiyattu Kalam’ from Kerala was there to see.  ‘Teyyam’ folklore form, in which a person gets transformed into a demigod, and which was staged on the second day, received maximum appreciation from the crowd. ‘Valiya Naga Kalam’ which compares well with ‘Nagamandala’ of Tulunadu, was staged on the third day. The creation of ‘Mandala’ which is mandatory in worshipping of the serpent god, came out excellently in this show. ‘Gulakam Kalam’, which was presented on the last day, had similarities with the Kola of ‘Guliga Daiva’ in Tulunadu.

On all these four days, Yakshagana performances were presented by Yakshagana Kendra Udupi, Alva’s College troupe from Moodbidri, and Makkala Mela Saligrama, serving cultural feast to the minds and souls of those present.

On all the four days, demonstration about the art forms, followed by interaction, were conducted at the venue. Folklore scholar from Kerala, Raghavan Payyanadu, and a number of scholars from undivided Dakshina Kannada district participated in the interaction. A large number of video-graphers and photographers  vied with each other to capture glimpses of this rare event.