Dashavtar

Then and Now

Abstract

Dashavtar (n'kkorkj) is a traditional folk form of theatre in the Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. Konkan region is the 720 km coastline of Maharashtra and Goa. In Maharashtra, it covers six districts- Thane, Palghar, Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg. Dashavtar is performed in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts of Maharashtra and in Goa. Ithas been supposedly brought to Maharashtra from coastal Karnataka in 1728 by ShyamjiNaik Kale. Hence, every Dashavtar performance begins by an invitation to him when the Sutradhaar says, “Kalebua, Dashavtaraschala!” i.e. “Kalebua, let us begin with the performance!”  The first performance of Dashavtarwas staged in Mahakali Temple at Adivare in the Ratnagiri district in Maharashtra. The first literary reference of this theatre art form is found in Marathi in Dasbodh