Mysuru: Twelve-year-old Snigdha Chauhan, daughter of Shobha Chauhan and Lokanath Chauhan, originally from Ittigegud, Mysuru, and now residing in Frankfurt, Germany, has been performing Yakshagana, one of Karnataka’s renowned art forms on foreign soil.

A 7th-grade student in a German school, Snigdha has been learning Yakshagana and had the opportunity to perform as Sita in ‘Mayamruga’ act during the inauguration of Yaksha Dhruva Patla Foundation in Germany recently. Notably, even some German audiences attend Yakshagana shows and appreciate the art.

Under the guidance of Yakshagana Guru Ajeeth Prabhu, Snigdha is mastering the art. “Learning such a celebrated art form in Germany feels special. I’ve made new friends through Yakshagana and participating in cultural events brings me closer to our heritage,” she told Star of Mysore.

Balancing school and her passion for Yakshagana is a challenge, especially during exam time. “One of the main challenges of living in Germany is not being exposed to complex Kannada words, so I have to practise more. Also, the long makeup process and heavy costumes in Yakshagana require a lot of patience,” she explained.

Snigdha has been learning Karnatak music and Bharatanatyam since the age of six. “Learning Yakshagana and classical music keeps me engaged in my free time and boosts my confidence in presenting myself to an audience,” she added. She  aims to continue to learn Yakshagana and share knowledge with her siblings and friends interested in learning the art.

Shobha and Lokanath came to Germany 14 years. They are active in Kannada Associations in Frankfurt. Shobha teaches Kannada to children from Karnataka living in Frankfurt.

Lokanath works as a Manager at an engineering company in Germany and Shobha is a home-maker. Snigdha’s grandparents Nagoji Rao and Manjula Bai reside in Ittigegud.