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Udupi : Sri Mahaganapathy Sri Durga Chikkamela balaga , Mandarthi . is a small group of Yakshagana artists who visit every house, perform a small context of epic stories followed by a puja, for which the resident gives offerings. . In the morning, they distribute pamphlets. The performance begins at 6pm and ends around midnight.

The Chikka Mela troupe consists of one male character (purusha vesha) and one woman character (sthree vesha). The background team includes the Bhagavatha, Madhalla and assistants. Chikka Mela is performed door-to-door and a short play is based on a mythological subject. ."  The traditional Chikka Mela Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of the coastal district and loved by the people here. This  they perform for 5 to 10 minutes, before receiving a token of appreciation from the family (rice, fruits, coconut and money with betel leaves).  

They perform at night so every household gets a chance to enjoy the dance and the blessings of the puja. If anyone requests for a performance for a fixed time in advance, they  perform for half-an-hour or one hour. In the early days, when the monsoon was believed to be the toughest time of the year, Chikka Mela was the only form of entertainment for the people. People could enjoy Yakshagana right in their homes. This way, children too would get a taste of the rich culture of the land. However, today, with no dearth of options for entertainment, people are not depending on them for enjoyment. Yet, people respect and welcome the group and encourage it to perform."

You can support them by contacting them-

Mr.Shankar Belanje ,Mandarthi--         mob: 9740839289

Mr.Praveen Ganiga, Kemmannu--         mob :9844271258