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Arts & Communication Tech revitalization of Yakshagana artifacts

A B

C D

E F

Figure 3. Survey responses from the Yakshagana community

A peacock hovering on top and a pair of wings on the side 3. Musical instruments of Yakshagana
make a stunning combination. Moreover, these headdresses
vary in size, color, and shape. Previously, there was a highly The music during a Yakshagana performance is entirely
skilled class of artisans creating these ornaments. However, improvised. In Badaguthittu Yakshagana, three musicians
currently, the number of skilled workers is very limited. perform using their musical instruments, with a vocalist
singing the poems while holding the tuning box (shruti) and
The shortage of resources, reduced profits, and lack of playing finger cymbals (locally called thaala) (Figure 7A).
incentives are causing ornament production to become These finger cymbals are typically constructed of bronze,
expensive and complicated.
with 78% copper and 22% tin by mass. Meanwhile,
Likewise, many of the other ornaments are handcrafted maddale and chande artists support the vocalist on their
from wood, which requires skill. Meanwhile, the golden percussion instruments. The maddale (similar to the
foil cover (silver- or gold-colored aluminum foil) of these mridangam) (Figure 7B) is played barehanded and is a
ornaments frequently peels off after regular use. Other double-sided instrument whose body is usually made from
key considerations include the availability of materials a hollow tubular piece of wood (drum). The two circular
(wood), the quality in terms of shape and size, waste, openings of the drum are covered with thick, seasoned
weight, cost, and durability. These components are also leather membranes, which are laced together with leather
subject to severe temperatures and humidity conditions. straps along the length of the drum to create high tension.
In this regard, the ambient temperature generally ranges The chande (Figure 7C) is also made from a piece of hollow
from 15°C to 40°C, with relative humidity ranging from cylindrical wood with pre-tensioned membranes at the
40% to 95%. ends. However, it is held vertically and played using two

Volume 2 Issue 4 (2024) 5 doi: 10.36922/ac.3052