Mysuru:  A vibrant folk culture was exhibited at Kiru Rangamandira in Kalamandira premises yesterday with various folk forms being exhibited by the participants of Theatre and Folk Dance training camp organised jointly by Gowthama Education and Cultural Seva Trust, Mysuru, and Kannada and Culture Department, Bengaluru.

Veteran theatre personality and former Rangayana Director Prasanna, who took part at the valedictory of the training camp inaugurated the Janapada Sambhrama and Natakotsava -2023 by beating dollu.

The audience witnessed a folk procession with artistes performing Kamsale, Dollu Kunita, Puja Kunita and various other forms from the entrance gate of Kalamandira till Kiru Rangamandira at its premises.

Students performed Kolata, Maru Kunita, Dollu Kunita, Kamsale at the stage programme which was held inside Kiru Rangamandira after the procession while Devananda Varaprasad, Dr. Somashekar, P. Lasya, Ganesh Malarakalani, Srinivasamurthy Kiragunda and Sinchana Chikkolale sang various folk songs.

Speaking on the occasion, Prasanna said that Kannada society and civilised India can be built only by folk forms. “Santa Parampare (Legacy of saints) was kept alive by villagers. It is the duty of everyone to uphold the footprints of folk’s legacy. Modernisation in today’s world is indeed needed but at the same time the culture of the land should not be neglected. All the developments and innovations of the present day are the result of community movement which happened four decades ago,” he added.

Theatre artiste and former Rangayana Director H. Janardhan, who too spoke, said that building a peaceful, harmonious and egalitarian society is possible only by folk. “Folk art which spreads from one person to another in the form of words must be cultivated, preserved by all of us. There is a huge contribution of folk culture during the Vachana Chaluvali, Dasa Sahitya and Sufi Parampare. Any art must assist in the development of a person and society,” he added.

Kannada and Culture Department Assistant Director Dr. M.D. Sudarshan, Trust President Krishnamurthy Talakadu and others were present on the occasion.