Apr 10 2026 to Apr 10 2026 6:30 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The story, the practice, the intention.

This is not a performance you watch from a distance. Veeragase is one of Karnataka’s most powerful folk traditions, a martial dance of Shaivite devotion honouring the tale of Veerabhadra, the fierce warrior born from Shiva’s fury. 

The evening opens with a Sutradar guiding the audience through the origins of the tradition, the story of Daksha’s yajna and the emergence of Veerabhadra. As the stage is sanctified in an opening ceremony, the audience join in the chant dedicated to Veerabhadra. Then, the dollu, cymbals and jagate are demonstrated and explained. Rhythm builds into movement. 

The dance vocabulary is broken open. Vigorous jumps, rapid spins, sword-work, the fierce raudra and heroic veera expressions. A few brave souls will be invited to try some of the steps themselves. Costume and adornment are explored: the vibhuti, the weaponry, the long hair, each a symbol of Veerabhadra’s formidable presence. The myth of Daksha, Sati, Shiva, and the birth of Veerabhadra is enacted through narration and movement together. The session opens to audience questions before the evening culminates in a full Veeragase performance.

Dance. Drama. Devotion.

This is the sixth presentation in the BIC Janapada series.

BIC Jaanapada is a bi-monthly (once in two months) series celebrating Karnataka’s folk traditions through the lens of regional identity and cultural preservation. Curated in collaboration with Tvarita Arts Collective India, the program combines scholarly discourse with live performances to explore the deep connections between geography and artistic expression. Through demonstrations, performances, and academic discussions, each session examines how landscape and local culture have shaped these distinct artistic practices.

In collaboration with:

Performers

Sri Sangama Basaveshwara Janapada Kalathanda
Troupe