Media Release

Muscat, Sep 14: In commemoration of the 30th year of Shree Ganesh Festival celebrations in Muscat, the Festival Committee organized a Sarwajanika Satyanarayana Pooja and Yakshagana shows at Shree Krishna Temple Hall, Darseit here on Friday September 5.

The morning session was filled with devotional rituals of Shree Satyanarayana Pooja. Main archaka Shankaranarayana Adiga conducted the proceedings and was ably assisted by Gurudas Pejathaya and other archakas. Hundreds of devotees partook in the pooja and sought the blessings of Lord Satyanarayana.

Banana stems, tender coconut bunches, fresh flower garlands and fruits adorned the mandap. The mandap decoration was beautifully crafted by Vishwanath along with the Divine Spark team.

Members of Om Shree Ganesha Vrinda rendered devotional songs in praise of Lord Satyanarayana. The pooja rituals concluded with the distribution of prasadam to around 1000 plus devotees.

The celebration mode continued with the final offering in the form of two Yakshagana plays, 'Bhakta Prahlada' and 'Indrajitu Kalaga' at the same venue. The entire hall was packed with Yakshagana art lovers, who enjoyed both the plays to the core and left the hall with a great display of appreciation.

Artistes from Mangalore headed by Bhagavatha Ravichandra Kanandikatte and Yaksha Mitra Troupe, Dubai performed and illuminated the rangasthala. An eye catching rangasthala was erected to uphold the traditional style. Stage decoration was done by Ravi Kanchan, Vishwanath Bangera and team.

Shree Ganesh Festival Committee members, as a befitting tribute to the commemoration, strived hard to organize the event.
 
Koni Prakash Naik welcomed the audience and highlighted the background and the essence of Yakshagana. Further, he narrated the synopsis of the prasangas. He profusely thanked His Majesty and the concerned ministries for their benevolence.

The inaugural lighting of the lamp in the traditional custom was conducted by Sarvotham Shetty, Dubai, Diwakar Shetty, Ramesh Shettigar, convenor alongwith the members of Shree Ganesh Festival Committee.

'Bhakta Prahlada' unfolded the various encounters between Hiranyakashyapu, Kayadu, Prahlada and Narasimha.  Their dialogues with indepth essence displayed the different emotions between all of them and also finally conveyed a moral story that faith in God is paramount, God will always prevail, God saves his devotees, devotion can be practiced at any time, any age, evil will be punished and God is omnipresent and omnipotent.

'Indrajithu Kalaga' depicted the period of the action packed confrontation between Indrajithu, Hanumantha, Rama and Lakshmana and the victory of Lakshmana. 

Roles and Artistes:

Bhakta Prahlada:

Pratheek Pakkala as Ganapathi, Balakrishna D Shettigar as Vishnu, Krishna Prasad Bhat as Lakshmi, Ravindra Uchil as Hiranyakashyapu, Asha D Correa as Kayadu, Kum Sharanya Venkatesh Shastry as Prahlada, Sudhakar Thumbe as Narasimha, Aditi Dinesh Shetty and Prapthi J Pakkala as Bala Gopala, Girish Katipalla as Shishyaru, Vikram Shetty and Vasanth Shervegar as Katukaru and Shishyaru, Donald Corea as Shishyaru.
 
Indrajithu Kalaga:

Shekar D Shettigar as Indrajithu, Vikram Shetty Kadanle as Ravana, Samantha Hegde as Vibhishana, Kishore Gatti as Lakshmana, Mohana Ammunje as Hanumantha, Balakrishna D Shettigar as Shree Rama, Krishna Prasad Bhat as Maya Seethe, Harish Shettigar as Kapi, Girish Katipalla as Ravana Dootha, Jambhava, Pratheek Pakkala as Nala, Aditi Dinesh Shetty as Angadha, Prapthi J Pakkala as Neela.

The artistes had donned colourful costumes and the brilliant makeup by Varnalankar, Gangadhara Shettigar, Bhagavathar Ravichandra Kanandikattes rendition, Padyana Sankarnarayana Bhat's rhythmic  beats on the chende and Venkatesh Shastry on the Maddale and Chakra Tala by Chandramohan enhanced and well supplemented and complemented both the prasangas.

Shekar D Shettigar, the director of both the prasangas directed commendably. Dinesh Bejai and Bhaskar Neermarga supported ably.
 
The back stage support team comprised of Jayananda Pakkala, Aarti Dinesh Shetty, Jayalakshmi Pakkala, Vishwanath Shetty, Amba Venkatesh Shastry. Chidananda Poojary and Dinesh Shetty coordinated the presentation of the play efficiently.

His Excellency J S Mukul, ambassador of India to the Sultanate of Oman and Mrs J S Mukul graced the event and were honourably presented with floral bouquets.

Shree Ganesh Festival Committee comprising of convenor Ramesh Shettigar, Koni Prakash Naik, Ramanand Kunder, S K Poojary, Karunakar Rao Kadri, Ashok Kotian, Umesh Karkera, Shashidhar Shetty, Nagesh Shetty Kinnigoli, Ravi Kanchan, Mangaldas Kamath, Gurudas Pejathaya, Shreenivas Shriyan, Dr Anchan C K and Kashinath Anchan felicitated all the artistes with bouquets and mementos in the traditional way in appreciation of their highly energized and power packed performances.

Sarvotham Shetty, president, Karnataka Sangha, Abu Dhabi and Vasu Shetty from Dubai were also present  and were felicitated with bouquets.

G V Ramakrishna, head, National Sales and Expat Services, Bank Muscat, a great supporter of art and culture also displayed his appreciation by presenting gifts to the artistes.

Jaya Ramesh proposed the vote of thanks.

It was indeed an aesthetic culmination emboldened with culture and traditionally rich essence.