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Bhagavatha Mela
Bhagavatha Mela, one popular throughout the Tamil Nadu, is now confined
to a single village, Melatur in Thanjavur district. It is held as a part
of the annual Nara-Simha Jayanthi festival in May-June. A large
flat thatched canopy and a small stage are put up in the streets in front
of the temple and the dramas are enacted to dedicate the deity installed
in the front hall of the temple.
Bhagavatha
Mela dance-drama is subdued and graceful with, mellifluous vocal and
instrumental music. Dialogue of high diction and suggestive strained
abhinaya and other symbolical action are its hall-marks. Violent scenes of
war and killing are not enacted but only narrated. The Bhagavatha Mela
dance-drama has dramatic interest, aided by classical music and dance. Every actor is well trained in Bharatha
Natya.
The performance commences with the appearance of the Konangi
or buffoon. He dances for a few minutes and requests the audience
to witness the play patiently. A group of musicians then sing the Todaya-mangalam
or invocation song followed by the introduction to the drama that is to
be enacted. Lord Ganesa then appears to bless the play. A
young boy is usually made to wear the mask of Ganesa and dance to the
accompaniment of background music. Each actor or character is then
introduced. After this elaborate introduction, the drama begins.
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