Veeragase not commercialised, performers find the going tough They have to wait for Kannada & Culture Department to offer them events to perform

By Yashaswini Sri

Nayana B, 20, a resident of Bengaluru, recalls the first time she witnessed the glory of the Veeragase dance form. She was six years old then. Her festive-season memory is embedded with the fiery moves of Veeragase artistes.

Veeragase is a traditional Hindu dance that originated in Karnataka. The Deccan Herald reported that the artistes have been committed to keeping intact the traditional features of the folk dance – headgear and cloth, saffron shirt and wraparound (‘panche’), rudraksha in the ear, ‘vibhuti’ on the forehead and metal ornaments with designs of the snake god, a sword in the right hand and armour in the left hand. The artistes dance to the tunes of ‘karadi vadya’ during the procession and recite ‘Veerabhadrana Vadapu’.

Nayana shared: “It was magnificent to witness an epic narrated with such vigour and grace. Every year, we witness this glory in our village. It is an essential part of our tradition.

Harshitha N, a female Veeragase performer, explained the situation of Veeragase in Bengaluru to The Observer: “In the past few years, there has been an increase in the number of trainees who want to learn and perform Veeragase. But, unlike any other classical dance form, Veeragase is not commercialised. To perform, we have to wait for the Kannada and Culture Department to offer us events. Performers should submit an application and other documents to the department to be recognised as Veeragase artistes. After that, they screen a certain number of artistes and offer events accordingly. With a growing number of artists and a limited number of events, it’s extremely difficult to make a livelihood by only performing Veeragase.”

Vishwa Prasad, a Veeragase artiste from Kumbalgodu, Bengaluru, said: “Over the years, Veeragase emerged as a cultural dance form that narrates through emotions and graceful dance moves. While we do not get any financial aid from the government, we are lucky to be performing at cultural events organised by the government. My brother and I perform the dance form together. For generations, our family has tried to preserve this tradition. We do our finest to let the world witness the beauty of Veeragase and listen to the saga it narrates. All we want is a little support and encouragement from the government.”

Popular in northern parts of Karnataka, this dance form is celebrated during the months of Shravana and Karthika, especially during Dasara. Veerbhadra, a Hindu warrior from the state of Karnataka, inspired the name of the dance. The devotees of Lord Shiva, who learn and do the Veeragase dance, are known as Lingadevaru, or people from the Lingayat community of Karnataka.

Neha Valentina, 22, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, said: “I have never heard about Veeragase or witnessed any performance. This is because it’s not performed frequently or more frequently than the well-known dance forms. I’m a resident of Bengaluru and my mother is a classical

However, Bangalore has become a commercial place and culture got pushed to the back seat. It should be promoted more and supported by the government as it defines our culture. People around the country should know about this dance form and learn to appreciate it..”

Ravi Theja, 24, an employee at Ather Energy has never heard about Veeragase either. “I have been living in Bengaluru my entire life, yet I have never come across this dance form. My family and I live a fast-paced life and I couldn’t concentrate on cultural and spiritual things.”

Mysooru News reported that a Veeragase performance was organized to mark the 80th birthday celebration of former chief minister stalwart B.S. Yeddyurappa at the BJP office in Mysuru on February 27, 2023. The artistes presented the legacy of the politician T.R. Gokul, a trainee analyst working in Cognizant, recounted: “I watched it when I visited my village, Thathanur, to celebrate Mahashivaratri with my family. In my village, it is a tradition for Veeragase artistes to perform at every festival, es- pecially with the culture our parents grew up in. It is significant for us to be part of this rich culture but somehow dance forms like Veeragase are slowly but surely being lost.”

Rama R, a Bharatanatyam teacher who runs a dance school named Varanika Nrityashalay, said: “Bharatnatyam is a commercial form of art. It is not bounded by any community. Everyone is free to learn. Veeragase, on the other hand, is not commercialised. That is the reason why most people do not know about it. If artistes performed it more, people might start appreciating this dance form.” during Ugadi and Dasara. Without their performance, the festival seems incomplete.”

Bharatanatyam dancer. Therefore, I am interested.

Asked about Veeragase performances in Bengaluru, he replied: “I have not witnessed it in the city. Most of my friends are not aware of this dance form. I wish Veeragase artists performed more in the city as well. I would love to watch them perform.” Similarly, Aditi M, a Bharatnatyam dancer, said: “I have a faint recollection of watching a Veeragase performance. I’ve watched it on TV multiple times. Our generation has lost touch

Over the years, Veeragase emerged as a cultural dance form that narrates through emotions and graceful dance moves. While we do not get any financial aid from the government, we are lucky to be performing at cultural events organised by the government. Our family preserved this tradition

— Viswa Prasad

Niranjana Murthy, a Veeragase artist with more than 35 years of experience who teaches this dance form to more than 200 students, shared: “More and more youngsters are interested in learning and promoting this dance form. If the government supports this and provides financial aid to the artistes, people around the state will be aware of this dance form. They will appreciate it thoroughly. Though we receive our cultural events from the government, payment has always been an issue. Right when people are showing interest in performing, if money becomes an issue, the interest might dilute.”

Ashok Chalawadi, Joint Director of Bengaluru Zone, Kannada and Culture Department, was unavailable at his office. When The Observer tried to reach him on the phone, he did not answer or return any calls.

According to a Times of India report, to preserve Veeragase and promote it among the youth, several mainstream filmmakers are going back to explore its roots. A team of newbies is ready to present a film that pays a tribute to Veeragase. Titled Paramvah, the film also explores a father-son relationship, It’s a crowd-funded film, with over 200 people investing in the movie. yashaswini.s@iijnm.org

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