Sphoorthi Theatre

From time immemorial, there is evidence of the existence of Sting Puppetry in Dakshina Kannada District in Karnataka State. According to folk art experts, the origin of Yakshagana puppetry has not been established. Though it remained with a few families, Yakshagana puppetry has survived for over three centuries, due to the Uppinakudru Kamath family's commitment to the art. In the 17th century, Krishna Babu Kamath and his son Lakshmana Bhagavatha launched the Yakshagana puppet theatre and traveled from place to place staging shows at fairs, temple festivals, and so on. The ancient folk art of “Yakshagana Gombeyatta”- known as Yakshagana Puppetry of coastal Karnataka was founded by three brothers named Sri Laxman. Sri Narasimha and Sri Manjappa Kamath, three centuries ago at Uppinakudru a small village in Kundapura Taluk, Udupi district of Karnataka State, India. It was Lakshmana who founded the Ganesha Yakshagana Gombeyata troupe. The grandson of Sri Laxman Kamath name

  Thiru Aadi Pooram is very special for Tamilians and all Sri Vaishnava Bhagavtha Bhaktas across the globe. It is a pretty coincidence that Aadi month is very special with varied ritualistic observations- Aadi Masam, Aadi Perukku, Aadi Amavasya, Aadi Krithigai, and Aadi Velli and Sevvai. Along with this Thiru Aadi Pooram has a special reverence of significance. “Pooram is also known as Purva Phalhuni”-one of the nakshatras or the stars out of Twenty Seven stars as per Hindu almanac and astrology. Sri Andal is also known as Godha and Sri Godha devi” the only woman Alwar who stood out in her glory as one among the twelve Alwars of Sri Vaishnava Guru Paramparai was born in Aadi –Aashada month in Pooram star. Thus, it is known as Shri Andal Jayanthi. All Vaishnava temples and especially Srivilliputtur the birthplace of Sri Andal and Sri Rangam the prime temple abode of Sri Vaishnavas rejoice in galore wherein, the festival is celebrated for ten days. It is also the day of birth of Uma-Parv

The Hindu almanac is mainly based on region, culture, and traditional practices. There are different types of Hindu almanacs -Solar. Lunar, Lunisolar, and so on. Tulunadu is the land known as Sri Parashuram Kshetra and the Sree kshetra of Deva and Daiva worshipping. This region follows Solar Hindu Almanac. This region of Karnataka has unique biodiversity, culture, and practices from the rest of the state. Solar almanac or Lunar almanac or any other Hindu almanac the year is divided into twelve months based on the six seasons. Each season is again characterized by ‘Swad’-taste mainly classified as sweet, salt, bitter, sour, pungent, and astringent. Tulunadu is a coastal belt plateau kind on the banks of the Arabian Sea. This region is bestowed with natural following rivers, tributaries, and streams all through the Western Ghats and reaching the sea. There is a strong connection between nature and humans based on seasons, food, culture, and practices. It is well said like Nature-Agricul

“The Earth is the only mother we all have in common-she needs love, care, and respect. Stop abusing mother Earth” The bug of refuse reduces, recycles, and reduces bit me long age. My room, my balcony, and my puppet workstation are more or else like a garbage collecting place wherein one can find right from plastic biscuit wrappers, covers, caps, and nozzles, to plastic bottles, carton boxes to old rags, and so on for my puppet making. To this now add up used flowers, fruit peels, vegetable peels, and green leafy vegetables, and the list adds up. What do they have to do with puppet building? Anything like organic puppets with flowers and fruits?? Sounds good!! Hopefully, maybe that day would also be not far away. Well, this was during one of the puppet's shows on World Earth Day 6 years ago, a little child asked my Puppet-the main character Challamma-, “Hey Chellamma. Are you practicing all the 4Rs you want us to follow?” This was a kind of slap given to me. I was not fully pract

  It just took me back to my childhood days in MTS Colony Hubballi, Karnataka State India. I would also engage in playing with potter’s clay in my neighbor Shri Gopinathacharya’s house and make small toys and stuff later to be thrown out by my family. Maybe my first-hand experience of clay work was much encouraged by Mama and Mami (that’s the loving liberty of addressing elders then). Every occasion of celebration had a significance that would be guiding the energy of living. “What an artful life was led and enjoyed by our ancestors?”—I question often myself. Thanks to social media like Whatsapp groups and Facebook for rekindling hidden golden memories.    Human beings had to live amongst other animal species by respecting and let live the kind of life skills adopted by our ancestors. One such celebration is “Mannettinna Amavasya” day. Maneettina Amavasya is celebrated as per the Hindu Lunar Almanac Jyestha month (June-July) Shukla Paksha on the day of New Moon Day. The word “Mannu

In the late 80s Obbava, a middle-aged migrated from a village near Irkal or IIKal to Hubbali city after losing her husband. She had no issues of her own. She was abandoned by her in-laws. She came to live with her nephew whom she had raised. She then had to live on her own after her nephew’s marriage. She was working as a domestic worker in 4-5 houses and earning her living. She used to wear high-power spectacle glasses commonly known in the region as ‘Soda budi’ because of her poor vision. She worked at my friend’s place as a nanny. At my friend's place, she lived in the backyard servant room. My friend’s father happened to be from Irkal city so he got associated with her and extended meaningful help. As the days rolled on, one evening during my case study, work about destitute women, I interviewed Obbavva. Then I got to know about the traditional folk embroidery of North Karnataka. Ilkal is a City in Bagalkot district in Karnataka State. India. The town is located in a v