Media Release
Mangaluru, Aug 5: Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE, the first and only exclusive Yakshagana training center in the UAE, are thrilled to host Yakshagana programme at the divine sanctum of Shri Kateelu Durgaparameshwari Temple, marking its 10th anniversary celebrations.
As part of the event, on Sunday, August 10, students of the center will present ‘Yaksha Archana' at the temple premises, under the guidance of the center’s Bhagavathike Guru, Bhavyashree Kulkunda.
Later, at 1:50 pm, a mythological Kannada Yakshagana performance titled ‘Manikanta Mahime’ will be staged at Shri Saraswati Sadan, Kateel Rathabeedi. The play narrates the story of Bhasmasura Mohini by the late Balipa Narayana Bhagavatha and Shri Sabarimala Ayyappa Mahatmya by Vishwavinoda Banari. It will be directed by the center’s guru, Shekhar D Shettigar Kinnigoli, and Natya Guru Sharath Kudla.
The performance will feature guest artistes including Ravichandra Kannadikatte, Girish Rai Kakkepadavu, Chinmaya Bhat Kalladka, Bhavyashree Harish Kulkunda, Dayananda Shettigar Mijaru, Vignesh S Shettigar Kinnigoli, and Manvith S Padmashali.
On this auspicious occasion, the Yaksha Sri Raksha Gaurava Prashasti awards, sponsored by the center, will be conferred upon distinguished individuals for their contributions to the art form: Yakshagana scholar Kargallu Vishweshwara Bhat, Guru Muralidhar Bhat Kateel, and retired backstage performer Krishna Shetty Mundkur. The late Anand Kateel will be posthumously honoured with the Yaksha Sri Raksha Gaurava Dhana.
A commemorative souvenir titled Yaksha Darpana, chronicling the center’s decade-long journey, will also be released.
The event will commence with a lamp-lighting ceremony by the chief priest of Kateel, K Lakshminarayana Asranna along with blessings by Venkataramana Asranna and Jananidas, spiritual leader of the Ramakrishna Ashram, Polali.
The awards function will be presided over by Dr Tallur Shivaram Shetty, president of the Karnataka Yakshagana Academy, Bengaluru. Vidwan Kamaladevi Prasad Asranna, descendant priest of Shri Kshetra Kateel will also bless the programme.
Esteemed guests for the event include businessman Shashidhar Shetty (Baroda), K Bhuvanabhirama Udupa (editor, Yugapurusha, Kinnigoli), and K Mithun Udupa (president, Dakshina Kannada District Literary Council - Mulky region).
The event will be compered by Daijiworld anchor Chetan Shetty. This announcement was made via a press release by the center’s patron, Kottinja Dinesh Shetty, and media coordinator, Girish Narayan Katipalla, who also extended a warm invitation and appeal for support from all art enthusiasts.