Oggu Katha derived its name from an instrument called Oggu, a small handheld drum. It is an art of story telling in
Andhra Pradesh, by ballad singers, with the aid of Oggu instrument.
Oggu Katha is said to have originated with the nomadic Kurmas (Yadavas) who sang ballads in praise of Lord Shiva. Oggu Kathas are performed during important festivals and marriages. Usually, there are four members in Oggu Katha, namely, a singer-narrator, an assistant singer-narrator who also renders dramatic dialogue, and two instrumentalists. The chief narrator gets dressed like a woman when the story narrated is that of any female deity.
