Media Release
Mangaluru, Jul 31: The seventh annual Bhramari Yakshavaibhava 2024 by Bhramari Yakshamitra Mangaluru Trust, featuring a Yakshagana photo exhibition, award ceremony, and free Yakshagana performance, will be held on August 3 from 4 pm at Kudmul Ranga Rao Town Hall in the city.
During the stage program starting at 7 pm, Prof K Chinnappa Gowda, retired chancellor of Karnataka Folklore University, will preside. Mangaluru South MLA Vedavyasa Kamath, Mangaluru mayor Sudhir Shetty Kannur, SCDCC Bank director T G Rajaram Bhat, Ravindra Shetty, founder of Vidyrathna English Medium School, Deralakatte, and Pradeepa Kumar Kalkura, president of Kalkura Foundation, will participate as guests. Sri Gopalakrishna Yakshagana Sangha Kairangala and Manohar S Kunder, Ermal Bada, will be awarded the 'Bhramari Yakshaseva Puraskar.'
Sadashiva Shettigar Siddhakatte, the senior artiste of Tenkuthittu Yakshagana, will be presented with the 'Bhramari Yakshamani' award. Senior artist Sadashiva Shettigar, who left a mark in the history of Tenkuthittu, was one of the few who knew the steps and heritage of costume. He mastered the art of colored disguise from Bannada Mahalinga.
He started Yakshyatra at Sri Kateelu Mela, performed for 10 years, 13 years at Sri Dharmasthala Mela, 10 years at Hosanagar, one year at Edaniru Mela, and the last 7 years at Sri Hanumagiri Mela. He is known for bringing life to colorful characters like Ravana, Kumbhakarna, Mahishasura, Varaha, Simha, Gajendra, and female colorful characters like Shuorpanakhi, Ajamukha, Puthani, and Pratrajwale. The character of Kakasura from the Sri Rama Karunya episode is a creation of his imagination.
Yakshagana performance
Tenkuthittu Yakshagana will be performed from 9 pm to 6 am the next day, featuring famous artistes of Tenkuthittu. Performances include Panchavati Prasanga from 9 pm to 11 pm, Kamsa Vivaha from 11 pm to 2 am, Sudanva Moksha from 2 am to 3:30 am, and Mahiravana Kalaga Yakshagana from 3:30 am to 6 am. All performances are free.
Yaksha photo exhibition
An exhibition of unique photographs by Manohar Kunder Bada Yermal, who has a collection of more than five lac photographs, will be held at the Town Hall from 4 pm onwards.