On the occasion of Mahakumbhabhisheka of renovated Sri Raakaasamma Temple of Kalale village, Nanjanagud Taluk, an episode Karibantana Kathe drawn from Sri Raakasammana Charitre will be performed in Moodalapaaya Yakshagana style by the artistes of Sri Mahalingeshwara Temple, K.Hemmanahalli on Sunday (Mar.5) from 9 pm onwards.

The team comprises: T.Ravindra – Bhaagavatha, K.Ganeshamurthy-Maddale, H.Narayanaswamy-Mukhaveene and K. Rajappa- Harmonium in the background and Narayana, Mahadevaswamy, Govindaraju, Ravish, Deepak, Raghavendra, Kirana, Umesha, Deviprakash Alva, Atish Alva, Rakesha, Prabhu, Soujanya and Amrutha in the forefront.

Yakshagana Natya Guru K. Vishweshwara Bhat and Secretary of Mahalingeshwara Temple G.N. Ananthavardhana will be co-ordinating the play.

Poet Kempannagowda, who lived in 14th century in Andenahalli, Mandya, has written this story Karibantana Kathe which consists of 1,571 poems. This story was a great hit for the folklore artistes from time immemorial. The story is about a brave local leader hailing from Ganga family which runs throughout the night. But now it is reduced to just 2 hours.

Kuvempu Vidya Vardhaka Trust had published a book titled “Kempannagowda virachitha Yakshagana — Karibantana Kathe” for which Dr. D. Javaregowda was the Chief Editor and H.B. Yashodhara, Editor, in 1984 itself, and CVG Publications, Bengaluru, has published a book titled “Kempanna Gowdana Yakshagana Kavyagalu”, edited by Ha.Ka. Rajegowda in 1993, which shows the importance of the works of the poet.

A myth is that in order to kill the demon Mahishasura, Godess Devi had appeared in different forms and names. One of that forms is Sri Raakasamma for which a temple was constructed in Kalale village long back.  For details call: Ananthavardhana: 94492 64920 or Subanna: 96636-01726.