Hebri gram panchayat library has its own Yakshagana troupe

Udupi: Rural libraries were witness to a major transformation after the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Hebri gram panchayat library in Udupi, along with having a collection of about 20,000 books, has been encouraging readers to learn Yakshagana.
The 10-member Yakshagana and Talamaddale troupe Anantha Shree Mahila Yaksha Kalamandali, Hebri was formed about six years ago and is led by librarian Pushpavathi Shetty.
Malathi G Pai, Hindi lecturer at Bhuvanendra College, Karkala who has trained the troupe told TOI: “I come from the family of Yakshagana artists and I am part of another troupe too. Pushpavathi was my classmate in high school and since then we have been friends. She has immense love and respect for the art and whenever I perform, she wishes that she could do the same. She came forward to mobilise readers interested in learning the art and we formed a team of 10 members. Whenever there is a performance, she would get home cooked food for the team during practise sessions. We end up pooling funds to organise an event, “ she said.
The team has 10 members including five students, teachers, a housewife and a journalist. A video of women practising Yakshagana in the library had gone viral recently.
Pushpavathi said, “This is an attempt to preserve the art. Since Yakshagana and literature are connected, I decided to form a troupe to provide a platform for amateur artists who are also our readers. We do practise in the library hall, when there are no readers,” she said.
The troupe has been formed with the support of executive officer Shashidhar KG, chief librarian Nalini, present PDO Sadashiva Shervegar, former PDO Vijaya, panchayat president Malathi, former panchayat president Sudharkar Hegde, former vice president Veena prabhu, and resource person Seetharam Hebbar.
“No fee is collected for training or performance. Most of the working women who are part of this group contribute when there is show. The expense for each show is around Rs 30,000. So far the team has performed seven shows and presented ‘Veera Vaishnava’ prasanga at the Ananthapadmanabha temple, Hebri on Saturday. The duration of the prasangas is around 2 to 2.5 hours. The troupe depends on male artists for Bhagavathige and to play the chende maddlale. We are hoping for support from the government,” Pushpavathi said.
(EOM)