As per Bhagavadgita, the supreme being will manifest to save the suppressed, to destroy the tyrants and reinstall the Dharma. Indian mythology has described ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the saviour, on the same lines. Matsya, Koorma, Varaha, Narasimha, Vamana, Parashurama, Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Kalki are the ten avatars or incarnations of Lord Vishnu. 
Dashavatar is a popular form of theatre, from the Southern Konkan region of Maharashtra and Goa. It has a history of around eight hundred years. The term Dashavatar refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu, the Hindu God of preservation. The theatrical form is performed during the annual festival of the village deity in the temple premises after midnight. It is performed without any technical props. Each character enters the stage from behind a curtain held by two persons. The Dashavatar performance comprises two sessions: the poorva-ranga (the initial session) and the uttar-ranga (the latter session). The poorva-ranga is the preliminary presentation that precedes the performance proper. The poorva-ranga is the story about the killing of the demon Shankhasur. This act also includes the characters like Lord Ganesha, Riddhi, Siddhi, a Brahmin, Sharada (the goddess of learning), Brahmadev and Lord Vishnu. The uttar-ranga, known as akhyan is considered to be the main performance based on Hindu mythological tales, highlighting one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The performance uses bright make-up and costumes. It is accompanied by three musical instruments: a paddle harmonium, the Tabla and the Zanj (cymbals). 
Dashavatar is popular in major towns like Sawantwadi, Kudal, Malvan, Vengurla, Kankavli etc. in the Sindhudurg district of the South Konkan region of Maharashtra. The villages of Devgad and Dodamarg also have annual performances of Dashavatar. Most of the villages in Vengurla Taluka such as Valaval, Chendvan, Pat, Parule, Mhapan have a rich tradition of Dashavatar. This theatre form is also popular in the North Goa district in the State of Goa. It is mainly performed in Talukas such as Pernem, Bardez, Bicholim and Sattari. It is practised by agriculturists or farmers in the Sindhudurg district of the South Konkan region of Maharashtra and the North Goa district of Goa. Dashavatar is a popular form of drama in rural as well as urban areas. It was initially popularised in the Konkan area by a Brahmin named Gore from the Kavthe area in the Sindhudurg district. Today, it is looked upon as an art of the classes as well as the masses.

Districts/Region

Maharashtra, India.

Cultural Significance

Dashavatar is a popular form of theatre, from the Southern Konkan Region of Maharashtra and Goa. It has a history of around eight hundred years.