Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (CN)
Pics: Hemnath Padubidri

Udupi, Jun 1: The city’s Yakshagana Kalaranga organized a convention for professional Yakshagana artistes, on Sunday, June 1.

Sri Sugunendra Teertha Swamiji of Paryaya Puttige Math inaugurated the programme and blessed the occasion. Newly-selected minister Dr V S Acharya, was the chief guest.

Addressing the gathering, Acharya said that a proposal had been put forth to form the Yakshagana Academy in the financial year 2007-08, but this did not come to fruition due to the political instability in the state. He assured that the academy will be formed in the near future.

As Udupi is the birthplace of Yakshagana and also where the art form reached new heights, the academy will be opened in Udupi, Acharya added. He exhorted the government to join Yakshagana Kalaranga in working towards the development of this regional art form which is now popular beyond boundaries. 

Medical, group, and accident insurance certificates were distributed amongst the Yakshagana artistes. Scholarships from Yakshanidhi were awarded to the children of Yakshagana performers.

Udyavar Madhav Acharya, Dr Prabhakar Joshi, M L Samaga, Kallur Shivaram Shetty, Kumble Sunder Rao, Vishwajna Shetty, Pukala Lakshminarayan Bhat and Murali Kadekar were present on the dais.