Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SN/SP)
Udupi, Jan 4: The closing ceremony of Yaksha Kishora Yajna was held at Shri Krishna Math on Saturday January 3.
The event was organized by Yaksha Kishora Trust in association with the Paryaya Puttige Math.
Speaking on the occasion, MLA Raghupati Bhat, president, Yaksha Kishora Trust informed, the trust has been providing the Yakshagana Training facility 42 high schools at present and that the facility would be extended to all the primary schools in the coming year.
The attempt being made to inculcating an interest in Yakshagana among the students and their parents alike through this programme has succeeded in its objective. This attempt will continue and the next year Yaksha Kishora celebrations will be grander as compared to the present year, he said.
The Kannada and Cultural department had promised to provide financial assistance for the programme but failed to keep up the promise thereafter, regretted Bhat.
Manu Baligar, director, Kannada and Cultural department was invited on behalf of the trust, but he did not even show the minimum courtesy of participating in the programme, he criticized.
Ten teams out of the total 42 gave the outstanding performance, while 15 teams came out with average performances, while the balance 17 teams need to show lot of improvement, said veteran Yakshagana artiste Guru Bannanje Narayana.
Around 871 students participated in the Yaksha Kishora Yajna, whereas 25 mentors actively involved in the programme. The performances by the students from Uppoor and Nittoor were better than even the professional artistes. Ten Christian and three Muslim students are taking part in the programme, which is an achievement in itself.
Anantarama Upadyaya, trustee, Kadiyali Mahishamardini Temple, Dr Vijaya Ballal, trustee, Ambalpady Temple, Tallur Shivarama Shetty, president, Yakshagana Kala Ranga, Purushottam Shetty, businessman, D Manjunataiah, Block education officer and Vasanta Shetty were present on the occasion.
Certificates of participation were distributed to the students by the headmasters of the participating schools.
MLA Raghupati Bhat welcomed the gathering. Murali Kadekar and Narayan Hegde co-ordinated the programme.