Bantwal: Koraga Community’s ‘Gajamela’ Attempts to Uphold Their Distinct Culture

Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network—Bantwal (RD/CN)

Bantwal, Nov 4: Although the scheduled tribes, also known locally as Koraga community, who were shunned socially, they nurtured their indigenous culture but its begun to lose its sheen for various reasons. 

The spoken language of the Koraga community is facing the danger of oblivion, along with their contemporary traditions and culture. 

So, a few alert leaders of the community have formed their own indigenous arts troupe to foster the cultural splendour of the community.  Known as Koral Arts Troupe, they staged a cultural show titled ‘Gajamela’ at Kuddupadav, near Vittal, recently in association with Kannada and culture department.

Gajamela

Drums have a great significance for the Koraga community and drum beats that were a part of their life during times of happiness and sorrow have been vanishing over the past decade or so.  Gajamela was formed by chronicling the various rhythms of drum beats, which are of intrinsic value to the community.   The audience got a chance to witness various rhythms of drum music used for various occasions.
 
Gajamela has staged shows across the state in association with Kannada and culture department.  They have been engaged in educating people across Bantwal and Puttur about their rich cultural hierarchy which is little known to the new generation of their own community.

Gajamela troupe’s rhythms with the traditional saxophone and drum beats, folk dance in groups of both men and women to the rhythms of music, enthrall the audience.  The drum beats performed held during ‘Bhootaradane’ and other occasions are mesmerizing. 

Their dance recital depicts their community’s traditional profession of weaving baskets by drawing twines from woods, wedding ceremony, adventurous act of breaking a coconut into two-halves in the palm, the heroic art of stick fight, and their soldierly qualities.

The music of drums depicting mourning at a funeral ceremony moves the audience to tears. A compere explains the significance of music at various stages and women also showed their skill in drumming.
 
Ramesh Manchakal is the president of Koral Art Troupe, assisted by community artistes Balaraj Mangalore, Ramesh Gundavu, Babu Pangala, Kudupa Saccheripete, Ravi Kaikamba, Kogga Ramesh Kodikal, Sumati Kinnigoli, Malati Kodikal, Malati Mangalore, Sasikala Kodikal, Harish Attur, Sudar Belvai, Sanjeev Kodikal, and Geeta Pilikula.  The troupe has staged shows across the state including Ravindra Kala Mantap at Bangalore, Kolar, Ramanagar, and Kodagu.