Yakshagana is a traditional dance-drama art form, primarily focused on storytelling.
But what happens when this art form transcends into a ritual?
When Divine entities and other spirits are (unintentionally) invoked and embodied within the dancers?

Check out this fascinating clip where 6th-generation Yakshagana artist, Keremane Shridhara Hegde, shares stories of how simple Yakshagana performances have transformed into a ritual, with parallels to “Bhootha Kola” (shamanistic ritual).

A beautiful explanation of how our Indian dance forms can blur the boundaries between reality and the otherworldly. Also, the protective measures traditionally prescribed in the Natya Shastra.Such examples serve as a reminder that there is much more to our culture and tradition than the we seem to remember — truly, “The Forgotten Essence.”