K. Mahabala Shetty, president of Harikatha Parishath, Mangaluru, said on Wednesday that the aim of the Harikathas was to enlighten people. He was speaking at the inaugural function of the ‘Harikatha Saptaha’ organised by the Sri Krishna Mutt, Kalkura Foundation and Harikatha Parishath, at Rajangana, here.
Mr. Shetty said that Harikathas focused on specific topics. They explained topics related to the epics, puranas or important religious or spiritual personages. Story telling was the vital aspect of Harikatha. Harikathas also had an element of entertainment in them.
Popularising Harikatha
Like many other art forms, the Harikatha too had seen its ups and downs. In its heyday, it attracted a lot of people. Then, it hit a slump, but is picking up once more. The Harikatha Parishath, which was founded in 2010 in Mangaluru, had the objective of popularising Harikatha throughout the State.
In the last six years, the Harikatha Parishath had held 60 Harikathas at different places. “We will carry on with our objective of popularising this art form in the State,” Mr. Shetty said.
Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, junior seer of Pejawar Mutt, said that Harikathas explained spiritual topics and concepts in a language which could be easily understood by common people. The Haridasas or artistes who sang “Harikathas” had the onerous responsibility of explaining these topics to the audience.
One of the aspects of the Harikathas was that they dealt with present-day situations and could draw a parallels in the episodes of epics or puranas. It was essential that people attended and encouraged Harikatha sessions, he said.
Earlier, Vishwesha Tirtha Swami of Paryaya Pejawar Mutt, inaugurated the Saptaha, Pradeep Kumar Kalkura of Kalkura Foundation, M.L. Samaga, the former chairman of Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, Prasadraj Kanchan, businessman, Pushkal Kumar, haridasa (harikatha artiste), were present.
The Saptaha began with the episode “Sri Purandaradasaru” by Y. Anantha Padmanabha Bhat, haridasa, from Karkala.
