Dashavatar: Traditional folk theatre form, Maharashtra and Goa 

Domain:Performing arts

State: Goa

Description:

Dashavatar is a popular form of theatre with a history of eight hundred years. The term Dashavatar refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu God of preservation. The ten incarnations are Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), Varaha (boar), Narasimha (lion-man), Vaman (dwarf), Parashuram, Ram, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki. It is performed during the annual festival of the village deity in the temple premises after midnight. It is performed without any technical props. Each character enters the stage from behind a curtain held by two persons. The Dashavatar performance comprises of two sessions: the poorva-ranga (the initial session) and the uttar-ranga (the latter session). The poorva-ranga is the preliminary presentation that precedes the performance proper. The poorva-ranga is the story about the killing of the demon Shankhasur. This act also includes the characters of Lord Ganesha, Riddhi, Siddhi, a Brahmin, Sharada (the goddess of learning), Brahmadev and Lord Vishnu. The uttar-ranga, known as akhyan is considered to be the main performance based on Hindu mythological tales, highlighting one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The performance uses bright make-up and costumes. It is accompanied by three musical instruments: a paddle harmonium, the Tabla and the Zanj (cymbals). Dashavatar is popular in major localities like Sawantwadi, Kudal, Malvan, Vengurla, Kankavli etc. in the Sindhudurg district of the South Konkan Region of Maharashtra. The villages of Devgad and Dodamarg also have annual performances of Dashavatar. Most of the villages in Vengurla Taluka (estate) such as Valaval, Chendvan, Pat, Parule, Mhapan have a rich tradition of Dashavatar. Dashavatar is also popular in North Goa district in the State of Goa. It is mainly performed in Talukas such as Pernem, Bardez, Bicholim and Sattari. It is practised by agriculturists or farmers in the Sindhudurg district of the South Konkan region of Maharashtra and the North Goa district of Goa. Dashavatar is today a popular form of drama in the rural areas. It was initially popularised in the Konkan area by a Brahmin named Gore from Kavthe area in the Sindhudurg district. Today, it has come to be looked upon as an art of the classes.