Karnataka famous folk dances

 INTRODUCION 

The folk dance of Karnataka are the Yaskshagana and Dollu Kunitha. Yaskshagana is a folk theatre from of Karnataka where as Kunitha are considered as the ritualistic dance  of Karnataka.  Dollu Kunitha is a major form of folk dance performance is   Karnataka.  Dollu Kunitha is performed mainly by men and women of the kuruba community of northern karnataka. Huttari Dance, Bolak-aat, ummatt-aat and komb-aat are the popular traditional dance froms from kodagu region. In mysure  Dollu Kunitha. Beesu samsale, kamsale is mainly practiced in the districts of Mysore, nanjagud, kollega and Bangalore. Joggahalige kunita, karadimajal, Krishna parijatha and lavani (from Maharashtra) are popular folk dance froms popular in North karnataka. Bhootha aradhane is practiced in the coastal region of Karnataka, the festival is great mix of folk beliefs awesome spectacle and ritualistic magic toward away the evil through a worship of the devil himself.  

PUJA KUNITHA (Pooja Kunitha)

Puja Kunitha is a folk dance from practiced in the region of Bangalore and mandya districts and is a ritualistic dance for worshipping goddess shake in all her forms of incarnation. This dance is a visual treat during all religious festivals, religious processions and fairs related to the celebrations for goddess Shakti. This form focuses more or the visual representation or exhibition of the dance, than the oral narration during the performance. This dance is unique as highly decorated bamboo poles are used in the performance, the dances sway the poles along with the music. The dances also carry an idol of Shakti over their heads in big woodern structures. 

GAARUDI GOMBE

GAARUDI GOMBE is a folk dance in which dancers dress in suits made of bamboo sticks. The karaga, in a dance performed by the thigalas, is a metal pot on which stands a tall, floral pyramid and which is balanced on the carrier's head. Pata Kunitha in Karnataka is a popular folk dance from extremely popular among the inhabitants of the Mysore region. Pata Kunitha of Karnataka is an extremely colorful dance form and provides great visual delight. Puja Kunitha is a popular ritualistic folk dance of Karnataka practiced largely around Bangalore and mandya districts. It is extremely colorful and visually delightful.  

YAKSHGANA

YAKSHGANA is a folk theatre form of Karnataka and it is an ancient art. It relates with many of the traditions and conventions of the Sanskrit theatre or drama, particularly those of the purvaranga and the existence of character,vidushak. The first yakshgna  play was in Telugu and was written in the 16th century by peda kempa gauden and was called as ganga gauri vilasam then came the Renaissance period, followed by the 17th century, which was the time when the YAKSHGANA form developed in Karnataka,Andhra Pradesh,this folk art is performed both as a narrative song and as a dance drama. The form was also related to the prabandha natak, which originated in a slightly later period. However, YAKSHGANA as a theatrical form regained popularity only in the 18th century. Till that time the written plays were created but mainly as scripts for presentations YAKSHGANA emerged as a full-fledged theatre form in South kannada at a time of great political unrest and social disturbances. The original form of YAKSHGANA involues the use of recitative modes of poetry, melodies of music. Rhythm and dance  techniques, colourful costumes and graceful make up . It distinctly differs in many ways from the norms of the Sanskrit stage, as it does not contain a highly elaborate language of hand and  eye-gestures, but it is closely related to developments in literature in the adjoining States of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and has some affinities to literary forms.

 DOLLU KUNITHA DANCE 

Kunitha are considered as the ritualistic dances of Karnataka , of which the Dollu Kunitha is one of the ritualistic dances that is popular with the kurubas of "Beereshvara Sam Pradaya". This is a very popular dance form of Karnataka, accompanied by the beats of the drums, and singing of the dancers. The beating drums are decorated by using colours or by flowers only the men of the shepherd community (kuruba community) are privileged to perform this dance. The Dollu Kunitha is characterized by vigorous drumbeats, quick dancing movement's and synchronized group formationd another dance from of karnataka,  which is equally famous, is the puja kunitha. For performing this dance , all the dancers carry a wooden type of structure having adeity on their heads. The Dollu dance  is related to a myth related to the divince couple of Shiva and parvathi. Hence,"Dollu" is popular among saivities. The Dollu instrument used today is made from the skin of either, sheep. Or goats tightly fitted from all sides to a frame that is made up of honne or mango tree wood. The other forms of this dance like - decade thatte Kunitha, yellammana Kunitha, suggi kunitha are named according to the deity, symbol or instruments which are balanced on the head or held in the hand of the  performer while dancing. Some of the other common ritualistic dances are the pata Kunitha, the gorava Kunitha and the kamsale.

BHOOTHA AARADHE

BHOOTHA  AARADHE means devil worship widely practiced in the coastal regions of karnataka. The  festival is a great mix of folk beliefs, awesome spectals and ritualistic magic ward away the evil through a worship of the devil himself. Karnataka Bhootha Aaradhe is widely popular because of its  unique spectacle and strange aura.The folk origins of the ritual is clear and is carried  on undisturbed as they were in the ancient times. Bhootha Aaradhe of  Karnataka  involves a procession in which idols are carried with great pomp. The idols are painted in a traditional manner and are meant to represent the bhootha or the devices. A curious seary feels is consciously imported in the demeanor of the idols. All throughout the procession, drums are beaten and firecrackers are burnt as the big crowd carry the idols towards a raised platform placed at a distance where the final rites of the procession take place.

VEERAGAASE

VEERAGAASE is popular folk dance. It is a symbolic presentation of the  beroism and valour of god Veerabhadra. This dance is performed during festivals and mainly in the hindhu month of shravana and karthika. It is a  vigorous dance based on Hindu mythology and involves very intense energy-sapping dance movements. The dancers put on turban like head gear and wear kavari coloured. Dhotis, Rudrakshamala, Nagabharanas and a wooden plaque of Lord Veerabhadra on their chest and smear their forehead, ears and eyes brows with vibhooti. Sporting an unsheathed sword in the right hand and a wooden plaque of veerabhadra in the left hand the dancers perform a martial drums. The dances troupe usually. Consists of two, four or six members. A lead signer in the troupe narrates the "Daksha yajna" epic with a huge decorative pole called nandikolu. Which has an orange flag at the top is held by one of the dancers and the traditional percussion instruments called sambal and dummy end music to the dance. Eymbals and shehanoy (wind pipe) are also used. The dance also involves a ritualistic piercing of a needle across the mouth.  

HULIVESHA 

HULIVESHA or Tiger faced dance  is a coastal Karnataka dance. During the navrati festival, local youth perform HULIVESHA.  It is a Hindu ritual that honours goddess durga, whose official animals is the tiger. Goddess Durga is well known for her compatible demeanor, which  she uses to keep evil forces away from  her devotees . This article will explain to you the concepts related to Hulivesha. HULIVESHA, also known as pilivesha in tulu, is a folk dance that is unique to the districts of dakshina kannada and udupi. It is done to honour the Goddess Durga whose favourite animals is said  to be the  tiger. Hulivesha may be found in all of karnataka's coastal cities, including Manglore, Udpi, kundapura, Moodubidri, kurkala, and others. While there is no set time or place to see Hulivesha, there is a very good chance of seeing it near temples, city centres, and popular public places during the  Navrati festival season. Hulivesha can also be performed at other popular festivals such as Ganesh Chaturthi, Sri Krishna Janmashtami and soon.