The Tenkuthittu Chikkamelagala Okkoota, Dakshina Kannada District Central Committee, has announced a set of guidelines to regulate and preserve the traditional house-to-house Yakshagana performances conducted during the monsoon season. The committee stated that the move comes amid rising concerns over misuse of the art form and the entry of untrained performers, and to encourage discipline among artistes.
Registration and permissions required
According to the new guidelines, all Chikkamela teams must now register with the union and obtain official permission before visiting houses. Only authorized teams will be allowed to perform, and households have been requested not to entertain multiple teams. Sarapady Ashok Shetty, president of the okkoota, informed reporters that artistes will not be allowed to demand more money from houses and must accept whatever is given. He also noted that each team will be allotted five villages or wards. The committee has requested that Chikkamelas originate from a temple and obtain a consent letter from the temple administration. The door-to-door visits of Chikkamelas will commence from Wednesday.
Performance and behavioral rules
As per the new guidelines, performances must be limited to 20 minutes and conducted between 6 pm and 10:30 pm. The shows should present meaningful mythological or historical content in Kannada or Tulu. The union has also laid down strict behavioral rules. Artistes must maintain discipline, avoid smoking, alcohol, and mobile phone use during performances, and wear proper costumes. Teams must perform only in designated areas of the house and follow a respectful approach while interacting with families.
Financial and fund management
A portion of the earnings from each team will be set aside for a fund to support artistes. The committee clarified that its office bearers will not benefit financially from the activities. The union also demanded a ban on the misuse of Yakshagana costumes during festivals like Navratri, Dasara, Ganeshotsava, and Ashtami. It urged the public to report such incidents to the police.
