Question

Write information about Dashavatara Theatre in Maharashtra.

Answer 1

1. Dashavatara Theatre is a traditional folk theatre form from the Konkan and nearby Goa. It is mainly a musical drama performed during village festivals and after the harvest season.
2. The stories are based on the ten incarnations of Vishnu: Matsya, Kurma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha, and Kalki. These mythological stories are presented through songs, music, acting, and sometimes spontaneous dialogues.
3. The performance begins with a Sutradhara (narrator) who invokes Ganesha for blessings. Actors wear colourful costumes, traditional make-up, and sometimes wooden masks to represent gods.
4. The show usually ends with the breaking of a Dahi Handi and an aarti.
5. In the 18th century, Shyamji Naik Kale formed a travelling troupe called a phad. Dashavatara also influenced early Marathi theatre and the works of Vishnudas Bhave.