Hariprasad Nandalike

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (YA)

Udupi, Jun 21: As it is said, ‘True yoga is not about the shape of your body but the shape of your life’, the life of a young boy from Belman has been shaped by yoga, leading to numerous awards and recognition at national and international levels.

Udhbav G Devadiga, son of Girish Devadiga and Jayalaxmi Devadiga from Belman, Karkala, is a young yoga prodigy. A student in class 8 at St Joseph’s School, Belman, Udhbav has been trained by yoga teacher Hariraj Shettigar from Kinnigoli. Due to his consistent practice, Udhbav has performed yoga on various platforms and has been appreciated by many. Alongside his studies, he has achieved significant milestones in yoga at a young age. He has been selected twice by the government for national-level yoga competitions. With the continuous support of his parents, yoga teacher, and school teachers, he has actively participated in and won numerous awards in state and national-level yoga competitions.

Udhbav has twice won the Sadyodaya Trophy from Yoga Ratna Tanusha Pitrodi, secured first place in a state-level yogasana competition, received a special award in a yoga competition held in Bengaluru, and won second place in the 2022-23 yogasana competition at Mysuru Dussehra. He also achieved first place in the Udupi-Dakshina Kannada Avishkar Yogasana Competition, first place in the Mysuru zone yoga competition by the Karnataka Sports Association, first place in the sixth national yogasana competition, and second place in the Mysuru CM Cup 2023 open category organized by the sports department, youth empowerment, Mysuru. Additionally, he secured first place at the taluk, district, division, and state levels in yoga competitions conducted by the public education department, government of Karnataka, and was selected for the national level for the second time in 2022-23. In June 2023, he won first place in the state-level yoga competition held in Kadur and became the champion. Selected from the Udupi district in January, he performed yoga in front of thousands at the Yogathon held in Manipal.

Udhbav has achieved remarkable success at a young age and has been recognized and awarded for his accomplishments in the field of yoga. He has received several awards, including the Kala Nidhi Award, Yoga Kalaratna Award, Aadi Gramotsava Prathiba Siri Award, Yogotsava Award, Interstate Yuva Prathiba Award (Kasargod), and many others.

In addition to his curricular activities, he is actively involved in extracurricular activities. Along with yoga, he is learning painting from Ganesh Acharya in Shirva and has achieved success as an exceptional painter. He won the admiration of the famous Yakshagana Bhagavatar, Yakshadruva Patla Satish Shetty, by painting his portrait and gifting it to him.

“It was possible to achieve so much in yoga with the constant encouragement of my yoga guru, parents, and teachers. My goal is to achieve even more in yoga,” says Udhbav.

Speaking about his student’s achievements, yoga teacher Hariraj Shettigar said, “Udhbav’s success at a very young age, learning yoga properly and excelling at the national level, is commendable. There is no doubt that he will achieve even more with continued encouragement.”