Daijiworld Media Network – Bahrain (MS)

Bahrain, Oct 3: The Srinivasa Kalyanotsava Yakshagana play was presented by Kannada Sangha artistes at the Kannada Bhavana in the city as part of the annual Yakshavaibhava event. Over 500 attendees from the island nation were enthralled by the excellent performance.

Prithiviraj Kavatharu and Roshan Kotian served as the Bhagavaths. The cast included Deepak Pejavara, Ramaprasad Ammenadka, Mohan Edaneeru, Akshay Marnad, Rahul Shetty Kudla, Sampath Shetty Beladi, Jivitesh Poonja, Bhaskara Acharya, Divyaraj Rai, Pushparaj Shetty, Karunakara Padmashali, Jagadish Babu Jeppu, Kiran Poojary, Satish Malpe, Ganesha Kateel, Hemachandra Salian, Kavita Suresh, Poornima Jagadeesh, Santhosh Acharya, Rajashankar Shetty, Reshma Gopal Shetty, Jhansi Shekhar, Sunil Poojary, Rajesh Shettigar, Satish Kolya, Shobha Ramaprasad, Rajesh Mavinakatte, Sachin Patali, Hitin Poojary, Namita Salian, Akshaya Rajesh, Laxminarayana, Sanath Sampath Shetty, Dhanvi Ramaprasad, Mahaswini Rao Pejawara, Abijna Suresh Siddanakere, Ria Himanth Salian, and Sahana Sampath Shetty.

Prithiviraj Kavatharu coordinated the story and wrote the Prasanga and Ranga Vidhana. Yakshaguru Deepak Rao Pejavara directed the play, with Jagadish Babu and Karunakara Padmashali assisting in the stage setting. Ramaprasad Ammenadka managed the costumes and makeup.

Subhashchandra, honorary president of the Yakshadhruva Patla Foundation Bahrain-Saudi unit, inaugurated the annual Yakshavaibhava program of the Bahrain Kannada Sangha. The immediate past president of the Kannada Sangha, Pradeep Kumar Shetty; vice president Mahesh Kumar; entrepreneurs Naveen Bhandary, Prakash Shetty, Satish Ullal of Vishwakarma Sevabalaga; and other office bearers of the Kannada Sangha were also present.

A makeup demonstration was organized for students of Yakshagana in collaboration with the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy before the play began. Amarnath Rai, president of the Bahrain Kannada Sangha, who presided over the function, stated, “Yakshagana is an art of the highest order. Though it originates from the coastal region of Karnataka, there are no boundaries for its admirers. Now it has crossed the ocean and arrived in the island nation. The Bahrain Kannada Sangha has supported Yakshagana for the past 47 years and takes pride in inviting Yakshagana artistes for the first time overseas.”

Dr Tallur Shivarama Shetty, who attended virtually, remarked, “The Bahrain Kannada Sangha has united the people of the island nation through Kannada and Yakshagana. We can think of holding a Yakshagana convention with the support of all Yakshagana groups in the Gulf nations.”

Prithiviraj Kavatharu, a member of the Yakshagana academy, emphasized, “Language and art unite people. Yakshagana is important not only for its costumes, makeup, or verbal skills but because it involves everyone. Through Yakshagana, people overseas have united regardless of caste, class, or gender.”

Ramprasad Ammenadka, the chief secretary of the Bahrain Kannada Sangha, delivered the introductory speech and served as the compere. Deepak Rao, a teacher at the Yakshopasana study center of the Bahrain Kannada Sangha, directed a workshop demonstrating the use of costumes and makeup and their importance. Resource persons included Mohan Edaneeru, Akshay Marnad, and Rahul Kudla.