“Pesni yakshei” i igry liudei: sotsial’nye i kul’turnye osobennosti traditsii yakshagana (Karnataka, Yuzhnaia India)

Abstract

The article discusses social and cultural aspects of the theatrical tradition of Yakshagana in Karnataka (South India). The author analyses the origin of Yakshagana, its classification and stratification, offers a cultural interpretation of repertoire and action, describes the social characteristics of troupes, explores the connection between Yakshagana and the local religious culture, and enquires into Yakshagana’s social functions. She argues that Yakshagana appears to be an “intermediary” cultural phenomenon that connects the pan-Indian heritage with the local performing practices, and that has accumulated a variety of musical, literary, poetic, theatrical and expressive knowledge.