The Hindu

Mangalore, Feb 4: The third anniversary celebrations of Brahmashree Narayana Guru Yakshagana Havyasi Balaga, Urwa Store, will be held at the Urwa Store ground on February 10.

The organisers have decided to present the Brahmashree Award to senior Yakshagana artiste and organiser Karnuru Koragappa Rai and Prathiba Puraskar to Tania Kishore Shetty, a student of the balaga, as part of the celebrations.

Kanakadas Kulur, president of the balaga, told presspersons here on Saturday that the organisation set up in 2003 was dedicated to the cause of promoting Yakshagana.

Noting that the youth had no inclination to learn the difficult and demanding art of Yakshagana, Kulur said the balaga was taking all steps to teach this art to those who were interested in it.

The balaga had trained 75 people in Yakshagana and its various facets. The balaga had 35 students this year. It had plans to organise lectures on Yakshagana to its students by senior artistes. The balaga had started Yakshagana Talamaddale meets in order to encourage senior and junior artistes, he said.

Referring to the anniversary celebrations, Kulur said that a community "Shani puja" would be held at the venue prior to the function.

H C Rangappa, Assistant Director, Department of Kannada and Culture, would inaugurate the function and present the Brahmashree Award. N S Chakkera, General Manager, Karnataka Bank Ltd., would preside over the function, he said.

Rajesh Kulal, secretary of the balaga, and office bearers were present.