An all-male drama troupe performs epic dramas to celebrate Vaikunta Ekadasi in village near Thanjavur

For 200 years, villagers in Kasavalanadu Kollangarai have staged epic dramas to keep devotees alert during Vaikunta Ekadasi festival.

On any given day, A Dharmaraj is busy managing his security services firm in Thanjavur. But during Vaikunta Ekadasi festival (that was celebrated this year from December 22-23), he is back in his native village of Kasavalanadu Kollangarai, 21 km away from Thanjavur, to join his fellow residents in staging epic dramas from 10 pm to 5 am.

The amateur actors, who bill themselves as ‘Tamizhthaai Nataka Kalai Mandram’ are continuing a long-standing tradition that aims to keep devotees alert until the special prayers begin in the early hours of the morning. The highlight of the festival is the opening of the ‘Paramapadhavaasal’ at temples devoted to Lord Perumal in the early hours on the holy Ekadasi day. Communities have developed their own traditions to keep worshippers engaged until the temple rituals begin.

“Staging epic dramas overnight has been a common practice in our village for nearly 200 years. I started in a baalakan (boy) role at the age of seven; I am 57 now, and hope to carry on for as long as I can,” says Dharmaraj, who played Lord Yama, the God of Death, this year.

As per folk ritual, the roles in these plays – Sampoorna Ramayanam, Valli Thirumanam, Satyavaan Savitri and Rukmangathan Charitram – can only be essayed by men.

“All the males born in our village consider it a privilege to be part of the Vaikunta Ekadasi dramas. We begin rehearsals on the third Saturday of the Tamil month of Purattasi every year, which gives us around a month and a half to get ready for the festival,” says Dharmaraj.

M Arun Kumar, 21, is a veteran of playing women’s roles. “I used to feel a bit embarrassed before, but now I am used to enacting women on stage. This year, I was Sita, Savitri and Mohini, doing both dialogues and singing. Once I am in my get-up, I just forget my fears and give it my best shot,” he says.