Pics: Inchara Digitals
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (RD/CN)

Udupi, Oct 25: “Yakshagana artistes dedicate their lives to the art and this is indeed worthy”, said Laxmivarateertha Swamiji of Shiroor Mutt.

He was speaking at the ceremony organized to confer the Deraje Sitaramayya Award on veteran Yakshagana artistes Dr Kolyur Ramachandra Rao and Kunjalu Ramakrishna Nayak, at Rajangan of Sri Krishna Mutt, here on Sunday October 24.

“It’s unfortunate that in a fast-paced modern life, the veteran Yakshagana artistes are finding it difficult to make ends meet”, said Laxmivarateertha Swamiji.

He further added that ‘Yaksha Sanje’, a welfare scheme for Yakshagana artistes, has been introduced in association with Shiroor Mutt to support the elderly artistes”, added seer.

District Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Ambatanaya Mudrady presided.

Udupi Yakshagana Kalaranga president Tallur Shivaram Shetty, Deraje Sitaramayya Cultural Foundation president Professor Shanker, Deraje Sitaramayya memorial committee convener Srikar Bhat, veteran
artiste Laxmisha Tholpady, Professor M L Samaga, Krishnamurti Deraje and Mantapa Prabhakar Upadhya were present on the dais.

Murli Kadekar and G K Bhat compered the programme.

Deraje Awards were conferred to mark the 25th death anniversary of Yakshagana artiste Deraje Sitaramayya in association with Deraje Sitaramayya memorial committee, Udupi Yakshagana Kalaranga, and Deraje Sitaramayya Cultural Foundation.