Pics: Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Dec 11: “Yakshagana can be sustained if youth love the art”, said Thonse Jayanth Kumar, director of Mantady Nandikeshwara Yakshagana Kala Mandali.

He spoke during the silver jubilee celebrations of Yakshamithraru Bolpugudde and Matapadi Friends and the felicitation programme held in Matapadi.

“A Yakshagana world has been created in Matapadi and the purity is maintained. There are many well known people in the field of Yakshgana. Matapadi Guruveerabhadra Nayak is one among them” he said.

“The young artists can be encouraged by supporting and respecting the veteran artists. The people who know Yakshgana say that the art is in a state of extinction which is false. It is possible to preserve, develop and create legends in the field of Yakshagana if the youth love the art”, he insisted.

Veteran artists Shankar Acharya, Subbanna Nayak, Sanjeeva Ganiga, Devadas Rao, Seena Poojary, Mahabala Acharya, Sadashiva Nayak, Ganapathi Nayak and the representatives of Late T A Sequeira and Late Mahabal Nayak were felicitated during the occasion.

The Guruvandana was rendered by Thonse Jayanth Kumar.

Nandikeshwara Temple administrative trustee M Girishchandra Acharya presided over the programme. Taluk panchayat member, Usha Krishna Poojary, Handady gram panchayat vice president Sudheer Kumar Shetty, gram panchyat members Gopal Poojary, Manoj Poojary, Voilet Bhanji, Indira Nayak, Mantadi Bhajan Mandir president Muddu Jattan, Vishwanath Shetty, Haridas Udupa and Sooryanarayan Ganiga among others were present.

Samson Sequiera welcomed. Srinivas Poojary delivered the key-note address. Sheron proposed the vote of thanks and Sharath Nayak compered the programme.