"Natya Shastra"

#12646489

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646490

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646491

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646492

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646493

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646494

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646495

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646496

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646497

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646498

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646499

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646500

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646501

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646502

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646503

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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#12646504

15 August 2025

Indian artists led by N. Ramankutty perform Kathakali, a traditional dance performed especially in the Indian state of Kerala, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on August 15, 2025, on the occasion of the 79th Independence Day of India. Kathakali, as a dance form popular today, evolves from many social and religious theatrical forms that existed in the southern region of India in ancient times. Kathakali is a blend of dance, music, and acting and dramatizes stories, which are mostly adapted from the Indian epics. It is a stylized art form where the four aspects of abhinaya--angika, aharya, vachika, satvika--and the nritta, nritya, and natya aspects are combined perfectly. The dancer expresses themselves through codified hasta-mudras and facial expressions, closely following the verses that are sung. Kathakali derives its textual sanction from Balarama Bharatam and Hastalakshana Deepika. Kathakali is a visual art where aharya, costume, and make-up are suited to the characters, as per the tenets laid down in the Natya Shastra. The characters are grouped under certain clearly defined types like the pacha, kathi, thadi, kari, or minukku. The face of the artist is painted to appear as though a mask is worn. The lips, eyelashes, and eyebrows are made to look prominent. A mixture of rice paste and lime is applied to make the chutti on the face, which highlights the facial make-up. Kathakali dance is chiefly interpretative. The characters in a Kathakali performance are broadly divided into satvika, rajasika, and tamasika types. Satvika characters are noble, heroic, generous, and refined. In pacha, green color dominates, and kirita (headgear) is worn by all. Krishna and Rama wear special crowns decorated with peacock feathers. The noble characters like Indra, Arjun, and the Devas are some of the pacha characters. The kathi type depicts anti-heroes. Though they are of the rajasika category, they are sometimes great warriors and scholars such as Ravana, Kamsa, and Sisupala, to name a few.

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