Sri Devi Mahatme 

Language: Kannada with scene summaries available in English
Duration: 8 hours (it really does run all night!)
Access Information: The venue is on the first floor and is accessible only via stairs. The Washrooms are on the ground floor.
This is a BYOP event (Bring Your Own Pillow).

This show is a Bangalore Premiere.

About the Show
linearಬೆಂಗಳೂರು brings back its all-nighter show again this edition! This time, we present Sampoorna Sri Devi Mahatme, a full-length performance in the Yakshagana tradition, that traces the battle between divine power and demonic ambition, the origin story of the Navaratri festival. The production brings this mythology to the stage through the form's distinctive footwork, costume, and makeup.

The narrative unfolds in three episodes. It begins at the dawn of creation, as Adimaya brings forth the Trimurtis, Vishnu, Brahma, and Maheshwara, and charges them with protecting the world. When a dispute arises among them over who is supreme, it is resolved only when Brahma is threatened by the demons Madhu and Kaitabha, and Vishnu is roused from yogic sleep to slay them. The story then turns to Mahishasura, a demon who grows so powerful through Brahma's boon that he conquers heaven, earth, and the netherworld, until Sri Devi, riding a lion, wages a nine-day battle and finally defeats him. The performance closes with the tale of Shumbha and Nishumbha, demons who rule and torment the three worlds; the Divine Mother, taking the form of Kaushiki, destroys the armies sent against her before slaying both demons and restoring peace.

About the Group
In 1989, in a male-dominated art form long known as a "men's art," entrepreneur, amateur playwright, and Yakshagana artist Sri Madhava S. Shetty brought local women together in Baala Katipalla to form a women's troupe, training them in footwork by Shivarama Panambooru and Ramesh Shetty. From the very start they gave numerous performances and competed against men in many contests, becoming the first women's troupe to win individual and team awards, along with gold medals.
Thirty-seven years on, the Sangha remains an all-women troupe, a distinct and celebrated mark on the field. Its artists, drawn from the local area and beyond, include children, young women, and women, and have emerged as all-round performers capable of playing every role. The troupe's first artist, Smt. Poornima Yatish Rai, has devoted 37 years to her craft and continues as the troupe's director. She has taken the troupe not only across Karnataka but also to Kerala, Maharashtra, Mumbai, Delhi, and Chennai. Beyond matching men in male roles, she is particularly known for her portrayal of Mahishasura — a role she has played over a thousand times — earning her the title "Mahisha Poornima." She has received the Kittur Rani Chennamma Karnataka State Award, the Dakshina Kannada District Kannada Rajyotsava Award, and the Abbakka Award.
Over 37 continuous years, the troupe has won the hearts of countless Yakshagana lovers and stands as a proud fixture of the art form at Baala Katipalla.