'Harikatha Parba' to begin at Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy's 'Chavadi' on Sept 21

MANGALURU: Harikatha, the composite art form that comprises storytelling, philosophy, music, poetry, drama and dance will reverberate in Tulu at the ‘Chavadi’ of Karnataka Tulu Sahitya Academy at the ‘Harikatha Parba’ getting underway on September 21. Ten leading Harikatha exponents will showcase their skills at the 10-day event that the academy is organising with Harikatha Parishat that marks 10th anniversary of the event as well.
Dayanand G Kattalsar, president of the academy who released the invitation of ‘Harikatha Parba’ on Saturday said the art form is an ideal means to instil values in the youth and the various sub-plots in the main stories have strong messages that can help share lives of individuals. These values help build character. Entry of youth into this art form, rubbing shoulders with the established Haridasas’ is a good augury for its growth in the future, he said.
The academy has made arrangements to live telecast the event on Channel 9, Facebook and YouTube. Excerpts from the harikatha will be hosted on YouTube later for those who want to watch the ‘highlights’, he said. The academy in associating with the parishat has created an additional platform for artists to sharpen their skills in their chosen art form at a time when the pandemic has robbed them of a stage to showcase their wares, he said.
K Mahabala Shetty, president of the Parishat said eight of the 10 harikathas will be in Tulu and two that dwell on the lives of Tulu demigods – Agoli Manjanna and Koti Chenayya – in Kannada. Artists accompanying harikatha exponents have been arranged in a manner there is minimal repetition, he said. Artists performing include Y Anantha Padmanabha Bhat, Manjula G Rao, Thonse Pushkala Kumar, Yajnesh Hosabettu, Shamna Adiga among others.