Report by: Kamalaksha Ameen
Bahrain, Oct 7: Kannada Sangha Bahrain recently hosted its grand annual Yakshagana event, “Yaksha Vaibhava – 2025,” at the Kannada Bhavan auditorium. The magnificent performance captivated hundreds of Yakshagana enthusiasts in attendance.
The cultural extravaganza, which began at 5 pm, featured two impressive Yakshagana prasangas — Gajendra Moksha and Indrajitu Kalaga. Both plays were performed with exceptional artistry by guest artistes along with members of the Kannada Sangha troupe. The audience was treated to a delightful blend of devotion, heroism, and emotion, receiving the performances with thunderous applause.
The background music was rendered by Srinivas Gowda Ballamanja and Mahesh Nayak Ajekaru as bhagavatars, Akshit Suvarna on the maddale, Savinay Nellithirtha on the chende, and Divyaraj Rai on the chakratala. In the front act, the artistes portraying Gajendra, Makara, Vishnu, Rama, Lakshmana, Hanuman, Indrajit, and Ravana brought their roles to life through their expressive acting, dialogue, and rhythmic dance.
In Gajendra Moksha, Ram Prasad Ammenadka played Indradyumna, Lakshman Shetty Taremaru as Drishtadyumna, Sampath Shetty Beladi as Yuvanashwa, Dhanu Rai as Veerasena, Akshay Bhat Moodbidri as Hoo Gandharva, Reshma Gopal Shetty and Namitha Salyan as Gandharva Ranis, Poornima Jagadish as Devala Muni, Bhaskar Acharya as Agastya Muni, Sachin Patali as Gajendra, Mohan Edneeru as Makara, and Kavita Suresh Siddhankere as Vishnu.
In Indrajitu Kalaga, Suraksha Jeevith Poonja played Sri Rama, Prakruthi Gopal Shetty as the first Lakshmana, Akshay Bhat Moodbidri as the second Lakshmana, Rajesh Shettigar as Vibhishana, Satish Kolya as Sugriva, Jeevith Poonja as Hanuman, Santosh Acharya as Jambavantha, Abhignya Suresh Siddhankere, Sanath Sampath Shetty, and Sahana Sampath Shetty as the monkey warriors, Rajesh Mavinakatte as Ravana, Praveen Shetty Kinnigoli as Ravana’s messenger/Shukracharya, Shekar D Shettigar as Indrajit, and Shobha Ram Prasad as Maya Sita — all delivering remarkable performances.
Stage setup was supported by Rajashankar Shetty, Hithin Poojary, Ayyappa Edneeru, Pushparaj Shetty, Lakshminarayan, Pooja Shetty, Jagadish Jeppu, Karunakar Padmashali, and Satish Malpe. The Yakshagana was directed by Deepak Rao Pejavar, with assistance and costume management by Mohan Edneeru and Ram Prasad Ammenadka.
At the end of the Yakshagana performance, guest artistes were felicitated. Senior member and bhagavatar Mahesh Nayak Ajekaru, who has made significant contributions to the Sangha’s Yakshagana wing, was also honoured with a memento. Tokens of appreciation were presented to artistes, volunteers, and main sponsors.
President Ajith Bangera expressed gratitude to all for their support. The event was attended by office-bearers including Subhashchandra, Naveen Shetty (Rifa), Satish Ullal, Kiran Upadhyaya, Mohan Edneeru, Jeevith Poonja, and vice president Nithin Shetty, among others.
General secretary Ram Prasad Ammenadka welcomed the gathering, proposed the vote of thanks, and compered the programme. The evening concluded with a fellowship dinner.