They perform to preserve 'veeragase'

Folk art for future

‘Veeragase’, one of the folk arts fading out from cultural life, has found a patron in a group of youth from Shidlaghatta. 

Kalajyoti, a cultural organisation has been set up by K V Gangadhar and Belamaranahalli Vishwanath for the cause of promoting and preserving ‘veeragase’. Veerabhadraiah, Vijayakumar, Nanjunadamurthy, Mahesh, Basavaraj, Manjunath and Shivakumar are the other members of the troupe. 

The artistes have been committed to keep intact the traditional features of the folk dance – headgear and cloth, saffron shirt and wrap-around (‘panche’), rudrakshi in ear, ‘vibhooti’ on forehead and metal ornaments with designs of snake god, a sword in right hand and an armour in the left hand. The artistes dance to the tunes of ‘karadi vadya’ during the procession and recite ‘Veerabhadrana Vadapu’. 

There is a story from the epics behind the birth of ‘Veeragase’: Dakshabrahma decides to carry out ‘yajna’ without inviting his son-in-law Shiva. His daughter Dakshayani goes to the event, though Shiva asks her not to attend the programme as the couple have not been invited.

Dakshayani, who was insulted by Dakshabrahma, jumps into the holy fire. Angered by her death, Shiva performs tandava and from his perspiration emerges Veerabhadra. Veerabhadra, on the instruction from Shiva, destroys the yagashala. 

The dance performed by furious Veerabhadra is called ‘veeragase’. The troupe travels across the district to promote the folk dance and has given over thousand shows in a year. The artistes, also called ‘Lingada Veeraru’, are invited by village residents as they believe listening to the story of Lord Veerabhadra from the artistes would ward off evils. The artistes transmit the knowledge of ethics and life skills through the mythological stories and parables. 

The artistes, irrespective of their economic background, have to go to houses on Ugadi day, seeking alms - which is known as ‘kwarunya’. The residents, who believe that the artistes are an incarnation of Lord Veerabhadra, donate generously. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Gangadhar says the troupe performs various attractive dance steps and tricks such as keeping the burning camphor on the tongue and chopping the lemon thrown in the air.

He said he learnt the dance from Imadihalli Shivanna. Now, Kalajyoti has trained Adarsha from Kurugal, Rudraradhya of Chikkaballapur and Shivakumar of Manchanabale. Besides, students from SRET High School in Y Hunasenahalli in Shidlaghatta taluk are also being trained by the troupe. The troupe has committed itself to serve as a transmitter of the culturally significant folk dance form.