INTACH Mangaluru explores female impersonation tradition in Yakshagana with artiste Shruti Bangera

Mangalore Today News Network

The third day of the World Heritage Week celebrations organised by the Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), in association with Art Kanara Trust, featured a compelling talk on the tradition of female impersonation in Yakshagana. Titled “Streevesha in Yakshagana: Female Impersonation Tradition in Indian Performing Arts,” the session was delivered by artiste and PhD scholar Shruti Bangera on Thursday, November 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kodial Guthu Centre for Art and Culture.

In her presentation, Shruti Bangera traced the historical roots of men performing female roles in Indian performing arts. “Indian history reflects a longstanding tradition of male artists enacting female characters, arising from social, relig