Media Release
Dubai, May 13: Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE, the first and only exclusive Yakshagana training center in the United Arab Emirates is celebrating a significant milestone, their 10th anniversary celebration. The decennial anniversary will see the team hosting two exclusive performances—‘Yaksha Gayana Saurabha’ and ‘Shivani Simhavahini’, as a part of ‘Dubai Yakshothsava 2025’.
The formal invitation and ticket release ceremony took place on May 11 at the Banquet Hall of Hotel Fortune Plaza, Dubai.
The evening began with traditional prayer and lamp lighting, setting a spiritual tone for a night of cultural pride. Dinesh Shetty, patron of the Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE, delivered the welcome address, reflecting on the organization’s decade-long journey, achievements, and its vision for future cultural engagement. He appealed to the community for their continued support for the success of this momentous celebration.
The highlight of Dubai Yakshotsava 2025 will be ‘Shivani Simhavahini’, a celebrated Yakshagana prasanga penned by the late Yaksha Brahma Agari Srinivas Bhagavatha, which has already seen over one lac performances.
Organized in collaboration with the Yakshadhruva Patla Foundation Trust (UAE Unit), the event will feature Satish Shetty, the trust's founder, leading the musical narrative through his acclaimed Yakshagana artistry. The mythological play will showcase talents of renowned artistes Deviprasad Alva Talapady and Kavyashree Nayak Ajeru and Krishnaprasad Rao Surathkal on Bhagvathige, Chandrashekar Sarapadi, Savinaya neliitheertha, Puttige Venkatesha shastri, Bhavanishankara Sharma on chende-maddale, and lead performers Subraya Holla Kasaragod and Arun Kotian. Makeup and costume will be supported by Gangadhar D Shettigar Kinnigoli, Nithin Kumpala, and Manoj Shettigar Haleangadi.
Special attractions will include ‘Yaksha Gayana Saurabha’, a unique vocal presentation by three prominent Bhagavathas, and ‘Abbara Taala’, a traditional percussion performance. The programme will also feature a cultural prelude by children and members of Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE.
The ceremony was attended by a host of eminent community leaders and dignitaries who jointly released the invitation cards and conveyed their heartfelt wishes. Among them were Sarvotham Shetty, president, Abu Dhabi Karnataka Sangha, Praveen Kumar Shetty Vakwadi, president, UAE Bunts and Karnataka NRI Forum, Deepak S P, president, Billawas Dubai, Satish Poojary, president, Sharjah Karnataka Sangha, Sudhakar Rao Pejavar, businessman and Brahmin Samaj UAE, Varadaraj Shettigar, vice president, Padmashali Samudaya Dubai, Ramananda Shetty, entrepreneur – 365 Enviro Dubai, Manoj Bangera, representative of Poladavar Yane Gatti Samaj Dubai, Sandesh Jain, Jain Milan Dubai, Supreeth Ganiga, Ganiga Samaj Dubai, Jasmitha Vivek, president, Theeya Samaj Dubai, Shodhan Prasad, film producer – SCENT Dubai, Sugandharaj Bekal, Margadeepa Cultural Committee, Mallikarjun Gowda, Veerashaiva Lingayat Samaj Dubai, Kiran Gowda, Okkaliga Sangha Dubai–UAE, Vishwanath Shetty, theatre director – Gammath Kalavider Dubai, Sandeep Kotian, Biruver Kudla UAE, Vasu Kumar Shetty, Karnataka Sangha Dubai - Jayant Shetty, Manohar Hegde, Nagaraj Rao Udupi, Rashmikant Shetty, Prabhakar Suvarna, Arun Kumar, Amardeep Prabhakar, and representatives from various other UAE-based community organizations and business circles who offered their full support and conveyed best wishes for the event’s grand success.
The Patla Foundation Trust’s Mangaluru (Adyar Garden) invitation was also released as part of its decennial celebration, with trust members calling for united community efforts to support underprivileged artists through their initiatives.
The evening honoured veteran artistes and media supporters, including Venkatesh Shastri Puttige, Bhavanishankar Sharma, and Jayanand Pakkala, who were present on the event and shared their reflections on the deep-rooted cultural essence of Yakshagana. Media friends Vijay Kumar Shetty, Divyesh Udyavar, Vivek, Sharath Saralaya, Nagesh Saralaya, and others were honoured by the organization for their presence.
The programme concluded with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Girish Narayan, a senior member and performer of the Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE, who expressed deep gratitude to all parents, students, volunteers, and well-wishers for their unwavering encouragement and contributions.
With this grand launch, Yakshagana Abhyasa Kendra UAE has once again reaffirmed its role as a cultural beacon for the Indian diaspora in the Middle East, ensuring that traditional performing arts continue to thrive even far from their native soil.