Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, Jan 20: MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, felt that Yakshagana art can thrive and progress, if training in this art form is provided to school students. “Those who get this training may not join professional Yakshagana troupes. It is sufficient if they remain amateur artistes, and nurture interest in Yakshagana in their hearts,” he said.

He was speaking after presiding over the valedictory ceremony of ‘Vidyarthi Yakshagana Sambhrama – 2011’ organized at Town Hall here by Karnataka Yakshagana Bayalata Academy, on Wednesday January 19.

“Many claim that Yakshagana art is waning, and that it suffers from the dearth of fresh artistes. Although there are people to support Yakshagana, there is a need for those who are ready to provide shelter to it. If programmes relating to Yakshagana, aimed at kindling interests of the youngsters towards it, are organized even in rural places, it might be possible to address the problem of shortage of artistes,” he felt.

Kannada Sahitya Parishat district president, Pradip Kumar Kalkura, and Academy president, Kumble Sundar Rao,  also addressed the gathering. On this occasion, award was handed over to Uppinangady government PU College team, which presented theYakshagana episode, ‘Meenakshi Kalyana’. Later, students of Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Business Management in the city staged a Yakshagana episode, titled ‘Makhasamrakshane’.